446th Airlift Wing Safety Office secures AFRC top awards Published Dec. 6, 2009 By Capt. Tim Wade 446th Public Affairs office MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- For some, it is a reason to scream from the top of Mount Rainier, but for the 446th Airlift Wing Safety Office here, it is an opportunity to discuss Operational Risk Management before the trip up the mountain - business before pleasure you know. The Safety office's "business as usual" culture helped the 10-member team capture four Air Force Reserve Command awards for their efforts in keeping the McChord community safe during the 2009 fiscal year. The accolades are the AFRC Safety Office of the year, AFRC Safety Officer of the year- Lt. Col. Kevin Welin, Chief of Safety, AFRC Ground Safety Noncommissioned Officer of the year- Senior Master Sgt. David Ponce, and a United States Air Force Flight Safety plaque. Colonel Welin knows exactly who to give the credit to for this award. "We would not be getting this award unless this base has a safety culture to do things right otherwise these awards would not be attainable," he said. The 25 and half year Air Force veteran also highlighted the accomplishments of the Safety NCO of the year Sergeant Ponce. "I do not have enough words of kindness that quantifies the amount of work this man has done," he said. "He is someone you look up to no matter what rank, officer or enlisted and age. He exudes professionalism. Safety is a way of doing business for him. He can specifically quote any regulation in the weapons or ground capacity in matter of fact in flight capacity out of the regulations and directives under a paragraph. He deserves every bit of recognition which comes along with the award and then some. I look up to the man and so does the wing." As for him, the Safety Officer of the year award keeps the instructor pilot's feet firmly planted on the ground. "The award is humbling," said Colonel Welin. "I would not have the award unless we had a good staff and good personnel in the 446th Airlift Wing. It cements your feet. It gives you the internal drive to do better." It is the second time within the past five years this office has received the top safety office honor. With weapons safety being a hot-button issue in the Air Force due to highly-publicized incidents, the wing received zero findings in Ground, Weapon, and Flight Safety programs during a visit by a civilian contractor hired to conduct inspections. The office also focused on another top safety issue of the Department of Defense- motorcycle safety. Through a local civilian contract, the office was able to offer more motorcycle rider courses to become 100 percent compliance with Air Force regulations. Colonel Welin already has plans in the works to keep the office moving forward by restructuring the current team and proving information in a myriad of different outlets. "We will proactively attack DWIs (driving while intoxicated), motorcycle safety, and try to get the word out through multiple avenues," said Colonel Welin. "We will try to instill a culture down to the brand new hire. It will go from old hat to new hat. We want to make it a way of doing business."