AMC FLIGHT SAFETY NCO OF THE YEAR
TSGT SHANE BAKER
92d Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, WA

TSGT SHANE BAKER of the 92d Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base (FAFB), WA, has been named Air Mobility Command’s (AMC) Flight Safety Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year for 2022.

A few of the many reasons Baker was awarded the Flight Safety NCO of the Year Award include managing the wing’s Flight Safety mission for a 5,200 personnel total force team, including a $4.5 billion aircraft fleet. He not only served as the subject matter expert (SME) at the world’s largest tanker base in the Flight Safety Officer’s absence, but also as the lead Aviation Safety Division SME.

Baker championed a safety culture by leading the first-ever proactive Aviation Maintenance Safety Program. He also introduced the Maintenance Group to Operations Risk Assessment and Management System, Line Operations Safety Audit, and Aviation Safety Action Program lessons which contributed to 1,900 sorties and 22,600 flight hours with zero Class A or B mishaps.

He primed the Safety division for a Unit Effectiveness Inspection by auditing the safety program, which earned the highest inspection rating and was lauded as one of the “Top 3” programs seen in 20 years. He was also the wing’s Interim Safety Board point of contact and directed safety investigations for 69 KC-135R and KC-135T Stratotankers, four UH-1N Hueys, and one C-26A Metroliner aircraft, finalizing 74 total reports.

Baker served as the wing’s Mid-Air Collision Avoidance guru as he helmed 17 airfield education programs and briefed the Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence team. This was critical to FAFB being ranked No. 2 out of all Air Force installations, which earned the wing $750,000 for base renovations.

As the safety advisor for the Inspector General, Baker commanded a team and guided 16 organizations through major accident response exercise requirements, which prepared the wing for FAFB’s airshow, Skyfest 2022. As the Skyfest point of contact, he also authored a safety plan for 39 aircraft and 22 aerial displays, which safeguarded 130,000 patrons.

Baker also revamped fall protection training for 20 squadron representatives, helping them to achieve 15 years with zero Class A, B, or C on-duty occupational mishaps. His skill in managing wing safety programs was a critical asset for Global Reach tanker support.