LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The 37th Contracting Squadron was highly recognized for its hard work last year, both as a squadron and with an individual award for one of its staff sergeants.
The squadron itself was recognized as the Air Force-level outstanding large contracting squadron of the year. The squadron's commander, Lt. Col. David Reese, said a lot of that had to do with the size of the 115-member team.
"Probably the biggest contributing factor is that we just did a lot of things really well," he said with a laugh. "And it's the largest operational contracting squadron in the Air Force. You compare our record to the normal base contracting office on paper, and in reality it's like, 'One organization did all that?'"
Colonel Reese said the squadron handles the majority of the contracting on base and did a little more than $300 million in contracts last year.
"We do everything, from pens and pencils and supplies to services, like people who clean the buildings, people who cut the grass outside, the refuse service, the dumpsters," the lieutenant colonel said. "There are also some technical services, people who work on the flightline guiding the planes in and out. We also do construction."
Staff Sgt. William Blakeman, who works for the Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineering Requirements, or SABER, team, is part of the construction team on Lackland.
He was recognized for being the Outstanding Enlisted Contracting Member of the Year in the Airman category. At the time the awards were given, Sergeant Blakeman was a senior airman.
Sergeant Blakeman said one particular construction project was what most likely what earned him the award.
"I would probably tell you the main thing was the (124-unit) Capehart officers' quarters," he said. "We had to make them habitable and do some repairs and keep them around for five more years."
Sergeant Blakeman, who has been at Lackland for four years, said his favorite part of a construction project is seeing it as a whole.
"What I like now is getting to see a project materialize, go from being a requirement to something that is physical, whether it's building an add-on or a repair, like we did this time," he said.
Colonel Reese spoke highly of Sergeant Blakeman, praising him for his skills in his career.
"He's a phenomenal Airman and a consummate professional, both on the military side and his career field," he said. "He's very adept at working with customers and knows how to get things done. Compared to his contemporaries, it's an impressive load he takes on."
Colonel Reese, however, is proud of his entire squadron. Their teamwork, he said, is what makes them work so efficiently.
"There are so many complex things, not only internally but also their work with others on the base, particularly within the 37th Mission Support Group," he said. "They have the ability to team, partner and collaborate."