The first AIR 6.0 Innovative Logistics Excellence Awards were recognized on June 12 at the AIR-6.0 Logistics Day. New in fiscal year 2012, this award is sponsored by the Defense Acquisition University Alumni Association Mid-Atlantic Region Chapter to recognize and acknowledge one military and one civilian employee whose innovative programs and/or projects have had a positive effect and impact within the AIR 6.0 competency, NAVAIR program offices and U.S. Naval Air Forces fleet units.

The 2012 Military Award was presented to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Rob Willis, a Marine who works with the AIR 6.7 group. Willis was selected for his innovative efforts leading the Current Readiness/End-To-End Team.

“I was truly humbled by this recognition. This award means a lot to me personally, but when coupled with the NAVAIR Commander's National Award that my team (Current Readiness End to End Alignment) received, it is even more powerful. To know that our positive impact on the fleet has been recognized is a great feeling,” said Willis. “I will retire in a couple of weeks after 25 years of service and I could not be more proud of the efforts of this team. It has not always been easy, but they stayed the course, doing what they knew was right for the future of Marine Aviation. The results show it.”

The 2012 Civilian Award was presented to Dwayne Cole, PMA-231 Advanced Hawkeye Automated Logistics Environment (ALE) lead, for his innovative efforts working E-2D ALE.

"The award was a complete surprise. E-2D ALE development and fielding has been a team effort with tremendous support from program leadership and collaborating PMAs, competencies and industry partners," said Cole.

Nominees for the annual award shall be evaluated on not only their commitment to logistics excellence through innovation, but also on the overall effectiveness and application of their projects and process. The identified processes, technologies or the innovative application of legacy processes should generate readily demonstrable cost savings, marked improvement in readiness as well as the potential for improvement of the overall logistics delivery schedule. Additional criteria shall include the ability to effect the performance quality of the system along with improvement in overall work environment quality of life.