Team Kadena earns Verne Orr award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zackary A. Henry
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Team Kadena's 18th Wing received the Verne Orr award for the 2014 fiscal year.

The award, named after 14th Secretary of the Air Force George Vernon Orr, is presented annually by the Air Force Association to a unit or organization that most effectively uses its resources to accomplish the Air Force mission.

Pacific Air Force's own 18th Wing is the U.S. Air Force's largest and most diverse combat wing, with five groups, 17 wing staff agencies and 26 joint partner units directing 9,200 personnel, 80 aircraft and more than $4 billion in assets able to deliver rapid and precise air, space and cyberspace capabilities to protect and defend the United States, its territories and our allies and partners.

"The men and women the 18th Wing are very deserving of this prestigious Verne Orr Award," said Brig. Gen. Barry Cornish, 18th Wing commander.

Kadena's 18th Wing has won multiple Air Force and PACAF awards, to include the Air Force Raytheon Award, best in environmental quality in the Air Force, the best airfield management unit in the Air Force and the best Command Cyber Readiness Inspection score in the Air Force, among many others.

"This award is recognition of the innovation and creativity of our Airmen and ability to make the most of our resources," Cornish said. "Team Kadena Airmen go the extra mile to ensure our Nation and our allies have the very best we can provide, from generating combat airpower to providing a strategic forward base."

Kadena's use of all of its assets and resources continues to provide unmatched combat power for the Indo-Asia-Pacific region providing for the common defense of Japan and its allies.

"Kadena's Airmen accomplish our mission every day," said Chief Master Sgt. Charles R. Hoffman, 18th Wing command chief. "That's really what it's all about, completing the mission."

As a command chief, Hoffman is not only focused on the mission, but on the Airmen as well.

"I am always pushing to ensure the Airmen are taken care of and the mission gets completed," Hoffman said. "But I am truly encouraged by those same Airmen who accomplish this immense mission every day."