Master Sgt. Paul Slattery just couldn't stay clean.

Working in a maintenance shop at a deployed location earlier in his career, Slattery was constantly covered in grease and oil.

"My supervisor would always tell me to go and get a new pair of boots," he recalled with a laugh.

Slattery enjoyed working on aerospace ground equipment (AGE), and his commitment to the Air Force was constantly on display on his coveralls - and sometimes his boots.

"It's just the way the equipment is over there," he said. "You're just dealing with oils and all the sand and dirt."

While the 38-year-old West Hartford, Conn. native no longer spends the days turning wrenches while covered in grease and oil, he still has something to show for his hard work and service to the Air Force. Slattery, the production supervisor for the 62nd Maintenance Squadron's AGE section, was recently named Air Mobility Command's 2010 Outstanding Maintenance Professional of the Year in the senior noncommissioned officer category.

"It's pretty neat ... I've never won anything that big before," said Slattery, a 19-year Air Force veteran. "(AGE Airmen) are the back-shoppers. It's nice that (AMC) is seeing that we're doing a lot for the mission."

In Slattery's case, that means taking care of 48 Airmen and eight civilians in his flight. While they work to keep generators, heaters, maintenance stands, light carts and any other ground support items in top shape, Slattery makes sure the shop operates at a high level.

"Knowing your Airmen is what it comes down to," said Slattery, a veteran of eight deployments. "It's about keeping your ears open and listening to any of the issues that come up. I try and get out in the shop as much as possible."

In addition to keeping a pulse on what is happening in the shop, Slattery always keeps his door open to Airmen so they can drop in and talk to him about anything that's on their mind.

He also enjoys sharing tricks of the trade that have helped him move up the rank structure: good time management skills and a constant desire to take on any extra training that comes along.

But perhaps greatest of all, Slattery is a sterling example of passion for the work.

After enlisting in the Air Force a mere 30 days after his high school graduation, he's always wanted to be in the maintenance career field, despite not having a mechanical background growing up.

"I've loved this job since my first assignment," said Slattery, whose father is an Army veteran and two older brothers serve in the Navy. "It's never the same every day."