A group of men in military uniforms standing next to each other.
Left to right: SSgt Christopher Dickey, Flying Crew Chief, 860th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, CA; Capt Ryan Bench, Pilot; SSgt Emily Cannon, Loadmaster; Capt Charles “Chuck” Cummings, Evaluator Pilot; Capt Tyler Moore, Pilot; and SSgt Logan Rackers, Instructor Loadmaster, all 21st Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, CA.

AIR MOBILITY COMMAND WELL DONE AWARD

By Staff

Presented to CAPT CHARLES CUMMINGS, 21st Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, CA.

The Air Mobility Command Well Done Award is presented to Captain Charles Cummings in recognition of outstanding achievements in flight. As the aircraft commander of Reach 444, Captain Cummings demonstrated the highest quality of Airmanship, leadership, and decision-making, resulting in the preservation of 25 lives and a C-17A Globemaster III aircraft. On 16 July 2020, Cummings and his crew departed the Philippines carrying three United States Navy sailors who had fallen seriously ill with COVID-19. The sailors’ condition had deteriorated to a point where they required immediate aeromedical evacuation to Travis Air Force Base, CA. Just after takeoff, the crew heard a violent bang accompanied by a forceful right-hand yaw and a THRUST LOSS caution annunciation caused by a compressor stall in the #4 engine. Cummings immediately corrected the aircraft’s track and directed his crew to scan the affected engine and run the appropriate checklists. Cummings’ quick reaction avoided a departure from controlled flight, as well as prevented further damage to the aircraft. Despite the engine malfunction, Cummings made the difficult decision to continue across the ocean to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI, given the serious condition of the infected sailors. While still enroute over the ocean, smoke suddenly began filling the cargo compartment. Cummings ordered all occupants to don emergency oxygen and oversaw the process of locating and extinguishing the source of the smoke. Upon their successful arrival in Hawaii, Cummings took preemptive action to coordinate maintenance for the aircraft. His actions resulted in expedited return to service, and the follow-on aircrew tasked with transporting the sailors from Hawaii to California departed on time with no delay to the aeromedical evacuation timeline. The distinctive accomplishments of Capt Charles Cummings reflect great credit upon himself, Air Mobility Command, and the United States Air Force.