LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
He is the flight chief for the largest sustainment services flight in the Air Force, overseeing more than 1,200 people on any given day.
The largest lodging operation in the Department of Defense falls under his guidance, as does the largest Air Force food service operation.
He understands teamwork is the key to the flight's success; it keeps a well-oiled machine humming around the clock every day.
So when Mark Tharp was told he'd won an Air Force award, he quickly rebranded his 2010 Force Support Manager of the Year honor from individual to team.
"Even though it's an individual award and it has my name on it, it really is a team award and that's what I tell my staff," said Mr. Tharp, 802nd Force Support Squadron sustainment services flight chief.
"I'm the guy who gets the shining beacon on the marquee; they're the ones who did all the real work that went into the award package. It's not just the size; it's the people that make this flight great. I'm just representing this wonderfully diverse flight as the award winner."
The sustainment services flight encompasses a variety of areas.
It includes 2,582 rooms in five lodging facilities at Lackland, Port San Antonio and Kelly Field Annex; 15 dining facilities; six fitness centers; and base club operations at two locales along with several contract restaurants.
"I have four absolutely sterling managers who run those operations," Mr. Tharp said. "They're all mini-empires when you consider the payroll, personnel and resource requirements that come with them.
"Each of the managers is a noted expert in their field; I'm really fortunate to have them working for me. It makes my job a lot easier."
During the award period, October 2009 through September 2010, lodging had the best financial performance in Air Force history with $8 million in net income adjusted for depreciation on $27 million in revenue; dining facilities won a best in Air Education and Training Command award while serving 8.4 million meals at a cost of $90 million; the fitness program was named the Air Force's finest in 2009; and more than $26 million was secured for infrastructure and facility upgrades.
In addition to dealing with the massive fiscal and physical numbers, the flight services an average of 27,000 people daily.
"Mark has probably the largest sustainment services flight in the Air Force, and he leads it well," said Lt. Col. Chad Schrecengost, 802nd FSS commander. "He's got a great personality and is very outgoing.
"His leadership presence carries forward when he's out (visiting facilities). He walks in and (the staff) knows who he is, and he calls them by name. That's the tell-tale sign of a good leader."
A retired Air Force major from, naturally, the services career field, Mr. Tharp has been associated with Lackland for nine years, the last two as flight chief. He said the job diversity keeps him revved up, and his co-workers keep him going.
Mr. Tharp said he was surprised by the award, and amazed to be recognized by his peers. Typically, what self-satisfaction he felt, he passed on to the flight.
"It was a great sense of satisfaction but more so for all the people that work in the flight and whose coattails I rode to get the award," he said. "It really is a flight award, not a Mark Tharp Award, because without them I'm just another guy pushing electrons."