For the second year in a row, the Mission Safety Team from the Site Operations Office at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Lakehurst brought home the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Squadron Excellence in Safety Large Industrial Award for its work in 2024.  

Stephen Butler, the Site Operations Office Occupational Safety Health Manager, noted last year was the first time they brought home this award.  

“It shows that we are continuing to excel as far as with our industrial operations and supporting the fleet, and also ensures that our employees are actually safety ready as far as Personal Protective Equipment, medical surveillance requirements, and also the job hazard analysis program to do their job," Butler said.  

One of the highlights from the past year was the team's work to have more team members certified for CPR and to use Automated External Defibrillators. Consisting of just seven people, the team has members embedded across NAWCAD Lakehurst, providing a wide array of support for groups, including test facilities, labs, and administration buildings. 

“We support each other and backfill each other when safety issues arise," he said. "It's a great team. It's a dedicated team. No challenge is too much for these people, and they actually look forward to supporting the mission of NAWCAD Lakehurst." 

NAWCAD Lakehurst Site Operations Director Aaron Leeb said it was a point of pride for the Warfare Center that the team has been recognized for their work.  

“I truly believe that their dedication to safety is unparalleled,” said Site Operations Director Aaron Leeb. “They have extensive experience and are embedded in the departments as well as at the command level to create an atmosphere where they are part of the team. They’re keeping their teammates and themselves safe, and their dedication is why they keep winning this award.”