AMC Risk Management Achievement Award, 22d Air Refueling Wing Safety Office, McConnell Air Force Base, KS

The 22d Air Refueling Wing Safety Office (22 ARW/SE) at McConnell Air Force Base (AFB), KS, led by Lt Col Rey Heron, is the winner of the Air Mobility Command (AMC) Risk Management Achievement Award.

The team executed several comprehensive risk assessments for high-profile events, enhancing strategic decision-making for senior leaders. They secured approval for the Air Force’s inaugural KC-46 Nuclear Operational Readiness Exercise and coordinated efforts to mitigate critical hazards during Project Magellan, benchmarking risk management for Maximum Endurance Operations. The team also synchronized efforts to cement 22 ARW as the first AMC wing certified for F-22 hot-pit refueling. They led a cross-functional team to expedite KC-46 801X alert sequences. Through cross-agency coordination, the team additionally guided risk management and enabled an innovation grant to test and implement an auxiliary-power unit remote-start system prototype.

By chairing several working groups and mitigating hazards with zero mishaps, the 22 ARW/SE propelled agile combat employment initiatives. The Safety Office Lead deployed in support of the Wing’s EXPLODEO exercise. In addition, the team oversaw four two million dollar mass no-notice weather evacuations in a six-hour timeframe, directing safety oversight and minimizing hazards for five thousand Airmen and global operations. They also led two installation-wide projects, conducting comprehensive risk assessments and securing approval to enforce stringent explosive safety measures and bolster infrastructure resilience.

The Safety Office executed the Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s Integrating Risk and Readiness Campaign by developing a curriculum, teaching facilitators, and educating Airmen about Risk Management and Operational Discipline. The team coordinated and wrote the base’s first low-speed vehicle risk assessment and developed the Air Force’s first three-dimensional-printed playground inspection kit. In addition, the team secured billboard safety advertisements and collaborated with local police to enhance motorcycle safety.

The 22 ARW/SE successfully managed explosive and non-explosive risk management for the 2024 Open House/Air Show. During the air show, a microburst damaged civilian aircraft and vendor property. The team implemented the installation emergency management plan to expedite recovery operations and prevent mishaps.