McChord civilian cashes in on IDEA

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MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. (AFPN) --  A civilian employee here was presented a $10,000 check for a suggestion he submitted through the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.

Kevin Shupe, an aircraft environmental systems specialist, worked with the manufacturer of aircrew oxygen tanks who agreed to recertify those tanks previously thought unserviceable. The tanks are now serviced at no cost other than shipping saving the Air Force about $700,000 in fiscal 2004.

Mr. Shupe is assigned to the 62nd Maintenance Squadron.

The IDEA program rewards successful ideas by awarding the innovator, in some cases, with money. The reward is limited to a percentage of the savings not to exceed $10,000.