An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | Feb. 11, 2015

Precision Measurement Equipment Lab calibrates for success

By Airman 1st Class Stormy Archer Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

Voltage, current, power, impedance, frequency, temperature, force, torque: these are the measurements of success that members of the 12th Maintenance Directorate Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory use every day to ensure accuracy, reliability and safety at Joint Base San Antonio.

Members of the 12th MXD PMEL received a certificate of compliance Jan. 28 at JBSA-Randolph. The biennial inspection team ensures that all calibrations done at the lab are done correctly, and according to Air Force standards.

"Every two years, Air Force PMELs need to be certified worldwide to make sure they are meeting standards," Gabriel Moreno, 12th MXD PMEL electronic measurement equipment mechanic supervisor, said. "The certification demonstrates that we can perform safe, accurate and reliable measurements that are traceable through the Air Force Primary Standards Laboratory to the National Institute of Standards and Technology."

The 12th MXD PMEL is one of 77 labs in the Air Force that specializes in the precision calibration and repair of test equipment called metrology, the science of measurement. Technicians from the JBSA-Randolph PMEL perform metrology for more than 200 work centers across Air Force locations in South Texas including JBSA-Randolph, JBSA-Lackland, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and Laughlin Air Force Base.

"Calibration is a form of quality assurance," Moreno said. "We ensure the accuracy of equipment from simple items like torque wrenches and tire inflators to complex navigation and communication systems and test sets for F-16 guided missiles."

During the inspection, technicians performed their calibrations with an evaluator watching over their shoulder. Inspectors checked for proper use of procedure and correct equipment use.

"This is something you can't get prepared for the day before," Stephen Boswell, 12th MXD PMEL electronic measurement equipment mechanic inspector, said. "It's something everyone here is trained to do at their job on a daily basis. We understand that if we do things right it could save someone's life and if you do something wrong there could be serious consequences.

"This certification is a big accomplishment," he said. "This is a result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people. We have a lot of dedicated people who care about what they do."