Page 1 - Edwards AFB Desert Wings 8-14-15

Volume 63, Number 7 Serving the community of Edwards Air Force Base, California August 14, 2015

www.edwards.af.mil – www.facebook.com/edwardsairforcebase

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by Jet Fabara
412th TW Public Affairs

As part of an ongoing initiative with Edwards operators and maintain- Air Force photograph by Jet Fabara

ers, the 412th Operations and Maintenance Immersion Program continues &DSW-RH6FKHQNHOOHIWWK)OLJKW7HVW6TXDGURQ)WHVWSLORWDQG*UHJ:HOVKWK$LUFUDIW0DLQWHQDQFH
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to create opportunities and a positive interaction so both groups gain SDUWRIWKHWK2SHUDWLRQVDQG0DLQWHQDQFH,PPHUVLRQ3URJUDP:HOVKLVD\HDUYHWHUDQPDLQWDLQHUZKR
was nominated by his supervisor for this program which was created to give operators and maintainers the
better insight into each other’s work dynamic. opportunity to create positive interaction so both gain insight into each other’s work dynamic.

Most recently, part of that effort involved Greg Welsh, a 33-year vet-

eran maintainer and maintenance manager with the 412th Aircraft Main-

tenance Squadron, and Capt. Joe Schenkel, 416th Flight Test Squadron
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“As a maintainer here, I’ve worked 10 different airframes over the

past 33 years and the last 20 years I’ve worked on F-16s, but I’ve never
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portant to show our maintainers and other test professionals what we

do on a daily basis, and expose them to the mission. As pilots, we at-

tempt to do this with our crew chiefs and maintainers daily by talking

to them about the missions we are executing and explaining why their

hard work is important, but nothing is more effective than an incentive
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for morale. There are hundreds of people who work hard every day to

ensure that F-16 test operations are safe and effective. It’s important to

reward people for their hard work and let them know their contribution
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For Schenkel, this program also gave him the opportunity to see the

maintenance side of the test world.
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worthwhile program that is a win-win for everyone involved. I’m happy

that leadership is on our side, and I look forward to more incentive and
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See INCENTIVE, Page 5

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by Rebecca Amber “I’ve heard some people describe my dad
Staff writer as a reluctant hero, but his humility wasn’t
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On Aug. 7, at the intersection of Wolfe White. “What it came from was an insistence
Ave. and South Muroc Dr., a street dedication that he would never single-handedly take
ceremony was held in honor of X-51 pilot, credit for the hard work that an entire team
Maj. Gen. Robert M. White. delivered. The willingness and the discipline
to be a part of something bigger than yourself,
With Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test WKDW¶VZKDW%RE:KLWH'UPHDQVWRPH´
Wing commander presiding, the street former-
ly known by the name Muroc was renamed Greg White remembers his father as a
Bob White Drive. ³JUHDW$PHULFDQ´ZKRWDXJKWKLPVWLFNWR
itiveness and discipline. Growing up with
In attendance were White’s sons, Greg their sisters, Pamela and Maureen, the Whites
and Dennis, along with his friends Johnny
Armstrong, Al Hallonquist, Bob Hoey and See DRIVE, Page 3
Michelle Merril.

Congratulations

The 412th Test Wing, Air Force Test Center, has been $LU)RUFH$LU¿HOG2SHUDWLRQV$LU¿HOG0DQDJHPHQW
awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for excep- Craftsman of the Year—Staff Sgt. Judd T. Young, 412th
tionally meritorious service from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2013. Con- Operations Support Squadron
gratulations Team Edwards!
2015 International Test and Evaluation Association Richard
Additionally, the following individuals have won at the Air Cross Award—Christopher Cotting, Ph.D., U.S. Air Force
Force: Test Pilot School