AFA honors CE contributions to operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm

  • Published
  • By Dr. Ronald B. Hartzer
  • Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  The Central Florida chapter of the Air Force Association recognized four Air Force civil engineers Feb. 18 in Orlando, Fla., at the organization's 20th Anniversary of Operation Desert Storm gala.

The four were named Ira Eaker Historical Fellows in the AFA for their contributions to the successful outcome of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Col. Elizabeth Brown, the Air Force associate civil engineer, was honored for deploying to Taif Air Base, Saudi Arabia, to provide beddown operations and was one of the few female civil engineers who deployed.

Retired Col. Marvin Fisher was chosen for leading the operations' single largest Prime Base Emergency Engineer Force team from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., to an air base in Southwest Asia.

Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Gilpin, with the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron, at Dover AFB, Del., was named for being responsible for demineralized water production for various aircraft and kept the system operational following a Scud missile attack at Riyadh AB with no missions lost.

Chief Master Sgt. Carey Casey, with the 49th Materiel Maintenance Squadron, at Holloman AFB, N.M., was honored as part of Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer team, that built shelters at numerous locations that served as ammunition storage structures, among other things.

"One of the Desert Storm activities that we wanted to recognize was the extraordinary work of the RED HORSE and Prime BEEF teams to prepare for the fight," said Tim Brock, the Air Force Gala chairman. "Without their support, aircrews at these bare bases could not have performed their mission."

Collectively, the engineers bedded down more than 55,000 people and 1,200 aircraft at nearly 30 sites stretching from Royal Air Force Fairford, England, to areas across Southwest Asia.

Civil engineers also erected more than 5,000 tents and constructed more than 300,000 square feet of buildings during the operations.

RED HORSE members also completed 25 major projects in three months, which is the equivalent of three years of construction for a single squadron.

"I am very proud to represent the hard work and professionalism of Air Force civil engineers at this event," Colonel Brown said. "Although rarely in the limelight, our work is essential to generating and sustaining combat power. Recognition such as this reinforces the fact that engineers are a vital part of the Air Force team."

The gala was part of the AFA's annual Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition.

The AFA is an independent, nonprofit, civilian-education organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the role it plays in the security of the nation.