445th MXS maintainers earn Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez award

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Two reservists from the 445th Maintenance Squadron have been awarded the Air Force Reserve Command 2012 Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award for their work in maintenance. The announcement was made Jan. 24.

Capt. Terrell Eikner, 445th MXS maintenance officer, was selected for the category Company Grade Manager and Mr. Jason Cox, 445th MXS metals technology craftsman who also serves as an Air Force Reserve Technician master sergeant, was selected for Civilian Manager.

The Lieutenant General Leo Marquez Award honors Air Force members, both military and civilian, who excel in technological maintenance. The individual's job performance, application of knowledge on the job site, and workplace efficiency are all considered.

Eikner orchestrated the maintenance ability to survive and operate exercise featuring more than 40 Airmen and the launch of four aircraft. He implemented a maintenance saving skill set to avoid depot costs and reduce supply requirements that saved the Air Force more than $1.6 million. He oversaw the coordination with engineers to develop a fix for a zero-balance C-17 fuselage composite panel, saving the Air Force more than $50,000. Eikner lead the maintenance group preparation of 80 Airmen for the wing's operational readiness inspection. The captain mentored 30 University of Cincinnati ROTC cadets during their career day. He also assisted the 445th Airman's Council in delivering 180 comfort kits to the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Cox guided the construction design and implementation of a $50,000 metals technology area that allowed the expansion of C-17 maintenance capabilities. He was selected to fabricate the prototype ejection seat spring for the MC-130J program, saving $100,000 in allocation costs. Cox established the maintenance work center industrial equipment recapitalization initiative, procuring more than $500,000 of new assets. Cox provided hands-on individual program management training to more than 30 Air Force School of Medicine students, expanding their knowledge of maintenance. He also provided young officers, enlisted and civilians participating in the junior Force Bluing Program an introduction to the role of maintenance in the Air Force.

The award was named for retired Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics and Engineering, whose 33-years of dedication to the maintenance and logistics career field revolutionized the way they do business.