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AFSOC civilian receives DOD Distinguished Civilian Service Award

Lisa Hershman, Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense, and Tom Jones, Air Force Special Operations Command A4 logistics, engineering and force protection directorate chief of rotary wing and special mission aircraft section, hold the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award at the Pentagon, Nov. 15, 2018. Jones received the award for ensuring AFSOC’s CV-22 Osprey, MQ-9 Reaper and non-standard aviation fleets were ready, relevant, sustainable and modernized. (DOD photo by Tech Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.)

AFSOC civilian receives DOD Distinguished Civilian Service Award

Lisa Hershman, Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense, pins the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award on Tom Jones, Air Force Special Operations Command A4 logistics, engineering and force protection directorate chief of rotary wing and special mission aircraft section at the Pentagon, Nov. 15, 2018. Jones was one of seven civilians recognized out of 732,000 DOD civilians for exceptional duty performance. (DOD photo by Tech Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.)

AFSOC civilian receives DOD Distinguished Civilian Service Award

Lisa Hershman, Deputy Chief Management Officer of the Department of Defense and Tom Jones, Air Force Special Operations Command A4 logistics, engineering and force protection directorate chief of rotary wing and special mission aircraft section, stand as the DOD Distinguished Civilian Service Award citation is read at the Pentagon, Nov. 15, 2018. Jones received the award for outstanding performance in his duties and having mission impact at the Air Force and DOD levels. (DOD photo by Tech Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.)

AFSOC civilian receives DOD Distinguished Civilian Service Award

Published Nov. 15, 2018
By Staff Sgt. Lynette Rolen
Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- An Air Force Special Operations Command civilian received the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award at the Pentagon Nov. 15.

Tom Jones, AFSOC A4 logistics, engineering and force protection directorate, received the award for exceptional performance as the chief of rotary wing and special mission aircraft section. He ensured over 150 of AFSOC’s CV-22 Osprey, MQ-9 Reaper and non-standard aviation fleets were ready, relevant, sustainable and modernized.

“Tom’s selection as one of the DOD’s Civilians of the Year is the most fitting recognition for his significant contributions to Special Operations Forces Air,” said Col. Eric Soto, AFSOC A4M maintenance division chief. “He is a tremendous asset to the CV-22 program.”

Jones’ performance led to mission impact at the Air Force and Department of Defense levels.

“He’s one of seven civilians selected for this level of recognition out of 732,000 DOD civilians,” said Maj. Strysan Murrell, AFSOC A4 weapons system branch chief. “He is an essential asset to our routine. He oversees all of the Integrated Maintenance Concept, basically the Marine Corps version of CV-22 depot maintenance. He also oversees both sites here and at Cannon Air Force Base for the CV-22s.”

Contributions Jones provided related to the V-22 mission reached top Air Force and Marine Corps leaders.

“Everyone throughout the V-22 community knows him,” said Maj. Strysan Murrell, AFSOC A4 weapons system branch chief. “He’s constantly working with the Marine Corps Program Office and Navy Supply to get maintainers the supplies they need to succeed. He never misses a beat and definitely provides AFSOC the best oversight of that dynamic aircraft program.”

Jones’ accomplishments with the program are well known throughout the AFSOC community.

“Within AFSOC, he’s probably the hardest working person on the CV-22 program,” said Senior Master Sgt. Marshall Mosher, CV-22 and special mission aircraft superintendent. “The program would not be where it is today had it not been for his efforts. He’s very deserving of this recognition.”