Andrews named Air Force Installation Excellence Award winner Published March 30, 2015 By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Air Force officials announced Joint Base Andrews, Maryland as the 2015 Air Force Installation Excellence Award winner March 25. Andrews was named as one of two finalists in November 2014, and competed at the Air Force level against Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom. A selection board consisting of four colonels visited both bases in January 2015, before making their final recommendation to the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force. In addition to being named the Air Force's best installation, Andrews will receive $700,000 to invest in quality-of-life projects on base. Col. Brad Hoagland, the commander of the 11th Wing, said it is an honor for Joint Base Andrews to be recognized for this prestigious award. “We want to make sure that we are providing the best quality of life for our installations’ 17,000 members while maintaining a cost-conscious culture,” Hoagland said. “This award is a testament to the seamless integration of our six mission partners and more than 80 tenant units here on (Joint Base Andrews). We’re thankful for their partnership and the support of the local community. We will continue collaborate in order to ensure America’s Airfield executes its multiple no-fail missions with the highest standard of excellence.” Established by the President of the United States in 1984, the Commander-in-Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence is to recognize the outstanding efforts of people who operate and maintain Department of Defense installations and effectively use their resources to support the mission. This award encourages commanders to create an environment promoting innovative and creative ways of enhancing base-level services, facilities and quality of life. In a March 4 letter, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Mark Welsh congratulated Joint Base Andrews and all Air Force bases for the hard work Airmen around the service accomplish every day. “It is our privilege to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of the men and women who operate and maintain our Air Force installations,” the letter read. “We thank them for a job very well done.” As the Air Force's top installation, Andrews will compete for the Department of Defense’s 2015 Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award. The Air Force Installation Excellence Award team also named the 2015 Air Force Special Recognition nominees. The special recognition category is a secretary of defense award, recognizing units, teams and individuals for exemplary achievement in support of installation excellence. The Air Force nominees are: 11th Civil Engineering Squadron 11th Force Support Squadron 11th Security Forces Squadron 11th Wing Command Post 11th Wing Inspector General Office 113th Aircraft Maintenance Team 811th Operations Support Squadron 89th Aircraft Maintenance Team Air Force Legal Operations Agency (AFLOA) Claims and Tort Litigation Division (JACC) Senior Airman Victor J. Abreu, 811th Security Forces Squadron Senior Airman Joshua S. Burch, 11th CES Staff Sgt. Journey E.L. Henderson, 11th SFS Senior Master Sgt. David J. Austin, 11th CES Capt. David W. Nugent, 811th SFS Cindy A. Kahahawai, 11th CES Michael E. Thomas, 11th FSS Anne T. Young, 11th FSS (The 11th Wing Public Affairs Office contributed to this story.)