News

Local Reservist is innovator of year

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  If your child has building blocks strewn about the living room as he builds his masterpiece, or your teenager has once again blown up a car in his efforts to make it go faster, take heart. 

Your child may be laying the groundwork for becoming an Air Force Exceptional Innovator, like Tech. Sgt. Chris Parcasio, 446th Maintenance Squadron avionics flight. 

In a ceremony April 21 at the Pentagon, Sergeant Parcasio was named the 2008 Air Force Exceptional Innovator of the Year, a result of six innovations that saved the Air Force more than $800,000 in 2008. 

He also is the first Reservist ever to receive this award, according to Chief Master Sgt. Mario Plocki, AFRC Performance Management, Robins AFB, Ga. 

Leading the way is integral to Sergeant Parcasio's character. He was the first in avionics in many years to successfully get an idea through the IDEA program here. 

"I really got into it with Boeing. I talked to the people I needed to talk to (in order to) get the things done," said Sergeant Parcasio. "Once I got the process down, I was able to help my co-workers get their ideas through as well," he added. 

Sharing his knowledge with his co-workers has generated many more ideas from the avionics flight Airmen, both active duty and Reserve, and civilian technicians.
 
"The idea program is working and Chris has proven that," said Senior Master Sgt. Norman Best, 446th MXS avionics flight chief. 

"With his informal leadership and his successes, there is now a whole group (in the avionics flight) getting involved. He led the way and now they're all fired up. They make lots of paperwork - but the good kind." 

Lots of paperwork covers not only the ideas of others in the avionics flight, but the seven Sergeant Parcasio has submitted thus far in 2009. 

"With just the four I submitted recently, we should see savings around roughly $1 million," said Sergeant Parcasio. 

The avionics flight as a whole is fast approaching $5 million in savings through their many IDEA submissions. And, they have their eyes on the 2009 group Productivity Excellence award. 

"Our avionics back shop originally couldn't put in for the Productivity Excellence award, which is the bigger award, in 2008 because we didn't break the $1 million mark. 

"I think we're almost up to $5 million (in fiscal year 2009)," said Sergeant Parcasio. "So we should be heavy contenders for that award this fiscal year." 

One key individual in Sergeant Parcasio's IDEA success is the Boeing representative in the avionics flight. 

"Our Boeing rep here, Larry Tellier, is a great guy and is the very best in his field. Larry is on point and he's helped us in a huge way," said Sergeant Parcasio. 

"Everything we do here pretty much revolves around him and it doesn't matter who initiated the project. Larry helps us get all the data we need to support our ideas." 

Success in the IDEA program requires team work and innovative minds, two key ingredients found in the 446th and 62nd MXS's avionics flights.