PAFB employee honored for 30 years of shuttle work

PATRICK AFB, Fla. --      James Smith was honored for a lifetime of work in a ceremony Aug. 30 at Patrick AFB.
     Smith, known as "Grumpy," works as a civilian in the 45th Civil Engineer Squadron Structures Shop and as an Auxiliary Coast Guardsmen, ordering food and preparing meals for up to 135 station personnel and boat crews.
     Smith enlisted in the Army in February 1967 and served until 1971. He joined the Coast Guard Reserve as a subsistence specialist in 1978 and remained in the Reserve until 2008, when he was transitioned to the position he holds today.
     Mr. Smith was recognized especially for 30 years of continued service to the Space Shuttle Program.
     "Mr. Smith always performs at the highest level and constantly out performs expectations no matter what task has been given him," said Robert Fortin, the Structural Work Lead of the 45 CES Structures Shop. "For the past two years he has actually been volunteering his time since transition to a Coast Guard auxiliary member. He has done this because the program means so much to him and is a testament to his dedication to the program."
     Col. Loretta Kelemen, 45th Mission Support Group commander, presented Mr. Smith with a model of the Shuttle and a flag flown on Space Shuttle Endeavour during STS-134.