AFPC names O'Malley Award winner

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KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) --  The former Keesler Air Force Base commander and his wife who led the base's recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina recently won the 2006 Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award. 

Maj. Gen. William Lord and his wife, Cynthia, received the award that recognizes the wing commander-and-spouse team whose contributions to the nation, Air Force and surrounding community best exemplify the highest ideals and positive leadership of a military couple serving in a key Air Force position. 

General Lord, who led the 81st Training Wing from April 2004 to November 2005, is now the director of the information, services and integration division for warfighting integration and chief information officer for the secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon. 

"Cindy and I are thankful, humbled and excited," General Lord commented. "We were surrounded by greatness -- the leadership demonstrated by the O'Malleys, the help from Air Education and Training Command and team members at Keesler." 

"Bill and I just did our best to make Keesler and the Biloxi area a better place to work and live," Mrs. Lord said. "We were pleased to help, honored to be recognized and continue to follow the Gulf Coast's recovery." 

Keesler's former commander was credited with leading the largest technical training overhaul in wing history. 

He and Mrs. Lord "displayed awe-inspiring teamwork and innovation that positively and dramatically impacted the wing and local community," according to the award announcement. 

The Lords led the initial disaster response and rebuilding effort following Hurricane Katrina, in which Keesler sustained more than $900 million in damage. 

The award will be presented later this year by Air Force Chief of Staff T. Michael Moseley at the Pentagon. 

(Susan Griggs, Keesler News staff, contributed to this report.)