AMC SAFETY SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
By STAFF WRITER
CAPT WESLEY W. CRAWFORD
305 MXS, JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ
CAPT WESLEY W. CRAWFORD, 305th Air Mobility Wing (AMW), Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL), NJ, has been announced as the winner of the Air Mobility Command (AMC) Safety Special Achievement Award.
When Crawford was the Ground Operations Deputy Director for the 2023 Power in the Pines’ Open House & Air, he earned a Meritorious Service Medal from the 87th Air Base Wing Commander when he ensured a successful event and the safety of 85,000 attendees.
Crawford’s efforts in mentoring five personnel on the Air Force (AF) acquisition process resulted in the generation of new Crash, Disabled, or Damaged Aircraft Recovery capabilities for JB MDL by acquiring two new custom lifting pieces of equipment with a weight capacity of 250,000 lbs. that helped move downed aircraft safer and on time.
Crawford was coined for his forward thinking by the AMC Commander and 18 AF Commander when his team on-boarded the AF’s first KC-46 “Smart” mobile inspection and maintenance trailer, allowing for KC-46 scheduled inspections to be conducted anywhere on the flightline safely while offering maintainers a mobile work center, internet access, air conditioned or heated area, and networked toolkits for Agile Combat Employment and Multi-Capable Airmen.
Crawford’s team won the Wing’s 2022 General Mark A. Welsh Award when he developed the Wing’s first comprehensive heavy inspection workflow for the KC-46, where he spearheaded two-shift operations that cut overall timelines by 40 percent.
Response capabilities were increased when Crawford led the effort to acquire replacement 26-ton Crash, Disabled, or Damaged Aircraft Recovery lifting bags after defects were noticed.
Crosstalk between Wings and major commands increased and innovation efforts were promoted across two bases when Crawford hosted the 58th Maintenance Group Deputy Director. Crawford also ensured safety and operating procedures when he pioneered his Wing’s first K-46 inspection Unit Type Code review.