The votes are in and 2013 was another banner year for the airmen of Joint Base Lewis-McChord Field according to the recent Air Mobility Command Safety Awards.

The 62d Airlift Wing won the AMC Distinguished Ground Safety Award for large wings and Thomas E. Thompson won AMC's Nuclear Surety Individual of the Year.

"This is definitely an honor, no question about that," said 62d AW Commander of Safety Lt. Col. Brian Lewis. "I've had the honor of working with this office and these folks for a while now. Mr. Thompson is a legend and he deserves the recognition. Mr. Heath and his shop help the Air Force to be better every day."

Thompson, who has served as the Wing Nuclear Surety manager at McChord Field for close to 14 years, entered into the Air Force in 1986 and began his current career as a civilian in 2006. He has spent the nearly his entire time associated with the Air Force working with the nuclear enterprise and has been through 24 Nuclear Surety Inspections, both as a unit member or inspector.

"It is really humbling to be nominated and then to win," Thompson said.

The Prime Nuclear Airlift Force, a priority mission for JBLM, is unique since the 62nd AW is the only unit within the entire Department of Defense that is authorized to provide transportation of nuclear weapons and critical components, is crucial because it ensures that national resources are appropriately handled, delivered and secured.

"Honestly, I view it as a wing award even though it is an individual award," Thompson continued. "I mean everyone is doing what they are required to do and taking it to the next level."

From Thompson's point of view, the largest challenge lies in "getting people to appreciate the big picture and not just concentrate on their small piece of it."

"Day-to-day, I work with the commanders regarding their involvements and requirements, as well as with the personnelists and the maintenance crews on base," Thompson stated. "It is a compliance program, but some of it is education. I work to give them the tools they need to succeed within their units."

>>> Mr. Heath and his crew as well as A1C Jeremy Santos, 62nd Aerial Port Squadron cargo processer, who is explaining to them the safety features of the Elevating Transfer Vehicle inside the cargo warehouse of the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron. Photo credit: Master Sgt. Todd Wivell

Heath, chief of Ground Safety for the 62nd AW, has been at JBLM since 2005. There are only four individuals on the Wing Safety Team, which leads the commander's program for safety across McChord Field and investigates when there are injuries, conducts workplace inspections and helps to produce mishap prevention products.

Despite the fact that the 62nd AW office falls under the tenant unit category, due to joint basing, they are actually performing the same level of work as the independent base level.

"I am always confident in our capabilities and striving to maintain a level of excellence, but like any award it's not guaranteed and depends on the judges," Heath explained.

That being said, Heath and the Wing Safety Team have won the award four out of the last six years. Not to mention, Heath has written a couple of databases, which save safety workers upwards of 40 hours per month, and are used throughout the Air Force.

"We continue to see what area we can improve upon and then the awards come easy after that because there's always ways to improve," Heath said. "But I want to do this so I have a great program and keep my people safe. The recognition is just a bonus, it's not why we do it."

"We're going to keep racking up these awards!" added an excited Lewis. "They truly earn these awards every time and they set the standard for the command."