Department of Defense officials recently named two Air Force civilians as 58th Annual Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service award winners, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced.

The highest honor given by the Secretary of Defense to career civilian personnel was presented in November to Dr. Steven Butler, the executive director of the Air Force Materiel Command, and Robert S. Jack II, director of communications and information for the Air Force Global Strike Command.

According to his commander, Butler's visionary leadership was critical in managing and executing a $60 billion annual budget and employing 83,000 people -- 40 percent of the Air Force civilian workforce. As the services contracting advocate, he led reform of 147 services contracts valued at more than $149 billion, to meet the Air Force and Congressional goals. He also managed services operations funds, saving $185 million annually, and more than $600 million in direct customer costs. As Executive Director of Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., Butler spearheaded the concept of "high velocity maintenance" across Air Force depots, converting high-risk aircraft maintenance into pre-planned biannual repairs. His concept improved safety while reducing costs and repair time. He also led the Air Force Material Command reorganization from 12 centers to five, the largest transformation in the command's 20-year history, saving $109 million per year and streamlining critical processes and structures.

Jack led numerous projects with impact at DOD and national levels. As the designated accrediting authority for all Air Force nuclear command, control and communications systems, he led efforts to provide modern, survivable communications to enable emergency action message transmission in support of the president of the United States. According to his commander, Jack's vision and foresight ensured critical funding was available for permanent B-52 communications and data-links upgrades. He led the transition of five main operating bases and 23,000 personnel from Air Force Space Command and Air Combat Command during the Air Force Global Strike Command stand-up, enabling the command to quickly reach full operational capability. He also managed a multi-million dollar cryptographic modernization initiative to ensure critical modernization of multiple nuclear command and control systems.

For information about the Air Force recognition program and other personnel issues, visit the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil.

(Information provided by Gloria Kwizera)