Air Force takes two DOD 2007 Maintenance Awards Published Nov. 20, 2007 WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The Department of Defense announced the winners of the 2007 Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards Nov. 19. The Air Force won two of the eight awards, which recognizes excellence in both field- and depot-level maintenance units. The field-level maintenance awards honor military maintenance organizations for outstanding performance. The awardees -- two from each category of small, medium and large organizations -- are chosen from active and reserve organizations that perform unit- or field-level maintenance. One of those organizations is singled out as the best of the best and receives the Phoenix Award. Air Force winners included the 1st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va. in the medium category; and 56th Maintenance Group, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. in the large category. Other field-level maintenance organizations receiving Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards are: Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment, Naval Station, Mayport, Fla. for the Navy, and Charlie Company, 501st Military Intelligence Battalion, Wackernheim, Germany for the Army. Winners In the small unit category are: Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, Calif.; and 1st Maintenance Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif. The 2007 winner of the Phoenix Award for field-level maintenance is the Marine Corps' 1st Maintenance Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif. The Secretary of Defense Maintenance Award for depot-level maintenance, the Robert T. Mason Award, is presented to the major organic depot-level maintenance facility that exemplifies responsive and effective depot-level support to DoD operating units. It is named after a former assistant deputy under secretary of defense for maintenance policy, programs, and resources, who served as a champion for excellence in organic depot maintenance operations. The 2007 winner of the Robert T. Mason Award for depot maintenance excellence in support of DoD operating units is the Dedicated Design and Prototype Effort Maintenance Center Albany, Ga. for the U.S. Marine Corps. These awards were presented Nov. 15 at the 2007 DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition in Orlando, Fla. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page