Housing flight builds foundation of excellence

  • Published
  • By Airman Dymekre Allen
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, GERMANY - --  The 86th Civil Engineering Squadron, housing flight was awarded the 2013 Brigadier General Michael A. McAuliffe Award for housing excellence.

This award recognizes the best housing flight in the Air Force for the fiscal year.

"It's great to be honored," said Debbie Perez, 86th CES housing flight chief. "It's a validation to me and my team that we do outstanding work in the KMC,"

The annual award is in remembrance of the retired Gen. McAuliffe, former Tactical Air Command and Air Combat Command civil engineer, who devoted 30 years of service to civil engineering.

In order to receive his prestigious award, a housing unit must display ideal housing services, excellent management and exceptional customer support at any Air Force installation.

"We try to provide the best housing we can by ensuring we maintain our living facilities," said Diana Keener, 86th CES facilities chief of housing. "We manage the expectations of so many people and we have a team with a lot of experience who are able to provide the best support."

According to Perez, as the second largest Air Force housing operation, winning an award of this level was an amazing feat.

"We are wowed by this achievement," Perez said. "It's all about the team that work their tails off every day to provide good customer service."

The award winning housing office located on Volgelweh, provides services to more than 47,000 service and civilian members as the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa's largest housing flight, supporting Air Force, Army, Department of Defense and NATO personnel.

The housing flight is comprised of resource assistants, on base facilities, dorms and furnishing management sections.

"It was a huge team effort," Keener said. "There's a lot of pride knowing we are recognized for doing something we couldn't accomplish without the efforts of the entire team."

The flight is a valuable quality of life asset utilized by many service members and is the steeple for military living.