Seven teams and two individuals recently received top honors for their resource-saving productivity improvements to the Air Force. The winners’ efforts resulted in more than $28.6 million in total tangible savings.

The Air Force Productivity Excellence Award recognizes individual Airmen and small groups who have made substantial improvements in productivity. These improvements come as suggestions through the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program, special acts and other management initiatives.

This year’s recipients include:

-- Team from the 4th Maintenance Group’s Air Force repair enhancement program at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.

-- Team from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo.

-- Team from Headquarters Air Intelligence Agency’s telecommunications monitoring and assessment program at Lackland AFB, Texas

-- Team from the 47th Flying Training Wing’s maintenance directorate at Laughlin AFB, Texas.

-- Team from the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center’s commodities division at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

-- Team from Ogden Air Logistics Center’s 84th Munitions Sustainment Group at Hill AFB, Utah.

-- Team from the 347th Maintenance Squadron’s HH-60G Pave Hawk Phase Dock at Moody AFB, Ga.

-- Jeffrey McCampbell from the 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland AFB, N.M.

The Air Force Exceptional Innovator Award recognizes an Air Force member or group who contributed to continual performance improvement through the IDEA program. This year’s winner is:

-- Ernest Phillips from the 436th Maintenance Squadron at Dover AFB, Del. Mr. Phillips, an engine accessory shop supervisor, developed procedures to rework link housings and refurbish fan blade parts for General Electric TF-39 engines. His three-step process of sandblasting, inspecting and recoating fan blade retainers eliminated the need to procure 1,234 engine retainers per year.

Lt. Gen. Roger A. Brady, Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel, will present plaques to the winners during a ceremony at the Pentagon April 13.