Former technical director for C-17 earns DOD award

  • Published
  • By JoAnne Rumple
  • Aeronautical Systems Center Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) --  The former technical director for the Aeronautical Systems Center's C-17 Globemaster III program has won a Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award for 2006.

Lawrence Fielding is one of eight this year to win the award, which recognizes exceptional achievements that benefited the entire department. It is the highest honor given by the Secretary of Defense to career civilians. Mr. Fielding, who retired in August, will receive the award Nov. 9 at a Pentagon ceremony the Pentagon. 

Mr. Fielding's selection culminates a distinguished, 35-year career, all of it served at ASC and Wright-Patterson AFB. Among his contributions was the establishment of standards and policies that improved the Air Force's ability to conduct airlift operations and be more interoperable; numerous "firsts" for C-17 Globemaster III development, production and modernization; and improvements to a variety of aircraft, including three patents for improvements to aircraft subsystems.

Citations for Mr. Fielding's DOD nomination and other awards highlight his engineering achievements on numerous aircraft and subsystems, everything from parachutes, arresting systems and aerial delivery systems to the F-16 Fighting Falcon, C-5 Galaxy, KC-135 Stratotanker, HH-60 Pave Hawk, MC-130 Combat Talon and the C-17. He also provided contract proposal guidance for some of those same aircraft, as well as the C-5 space module modification, Air Force One, the AC-130U Gunship, and others.

His work with the C-17 was what prompted his supervisor, Col. Ed Stanhouse, commander of the 516th Aeronautical Systems Group, to nominate Mr. Fielding. 

Mr. Fielding was the driving force behind the creation and systematic development of the ASC-benchmarked C-17 technology roadmap process, the colonel said. Mr. Fielding's efforts allowed the combatant commander 100 percent fleet availability while maintaining an amazing 86 percent global mission-capable rate during Operation Iraqi Freedom. This accomplishment directly resulted in the C-17 providing an impressive 98 percent of Operation Enduring Freedom's airlift, consisting of 5,600 short tons of cargo and 2.5 million humanitarian daily rations over 198 missions.

Additionally, Mr. Fielding was one of the initial technical leaders responsible for successful implementation of much of the engineering work that went into making the C-17 the first acquisition program to successfully use the total system performance responsibility concept.

Thinking back over his career, Mr. Fielding had two comments. 

"ASC's workforce should be extremely proud of its accomplishments," he said. "Even with all the manpower reductions in recent years, we've used ingenuity and a whole host of acquisition initiatives, as well as the close partnership we've developed with aerospace industry, to produce tremendous weapon systems, most notably the C-17.

"Also," he said, "I think it's important for folks to realize that you can accomplish your goals and dreams at ASC. When I first came on board, I had heard about all the great things the Air Force did at what was then Aeronautical Systems Division.

"I decided early on that I was going to get an engineering degree and work at Wright-Patterson AFB," said Mr. Fielding. "I wanted to work on airplanes and be a chief engineer. And I made it! Which just goes to prove rewards like good jobs and promotions are indeed given to those who work hard, have ambition and show initiative."