Patrick team wins third AFSPC award Published Feb. 26, 2009 By 1st Lt. David Jones Detachment 1, Spacelift Range Group PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A prestigious Air Force Communications & Information Award was presented recently to Patrick Air Force Base's Planning & Scheduling/Network Management Project Team. The Air Force Space Command's 2008 General Edwin W. Rawlings Team Award recognized the dedication and cooperative efforts of several organizations from Patrick AFB including SMC's Spacelift Range Group Detachment 1, the 45th Range Management Squadron, and the 17th Test Squadron. This diverse, 15-member team included specialists from the fields of program management, engineering, logistics, test, and quality assurance. They collectively overcame tremendous budget and technical challenges culminating in the accomplishment of over 2,300 hours of testing in an effort to modernize and streamline the Eastern Range's $80 million launch systems communications network. The new modernized system automates the launch instrumentation configuration process and shortens the time required for operators to configure over 250 instrumentation circuits from days to less than 45 minutes. Centralized network fault detection and fault isolation provides immediate problem identification, notification, and severity impact. The system ensures strict launch instrumentation configuration management and improves range turnaround and responsiveness. Despite budget cuts, product rescoping, and range scheduling conflicts, the team was able to manage resources effectively while deconflicting more than 1,500 launch operations in order to deliver an enhanced capability to support the nation's launch operations. The General Edwin W. Rawlings Award recognizes teams that have provided significant improvement in communications and information support to the Air Force and DoD missions and operations. "Detachment 1 is a small unit, making big things happen and a key element of our success is the exceptional teamwork we share with our mission partners. Together, we're keeping the range launch ready!" said Detachment 1 Commander Lt. Col. Stacy Exum. This is the third Air Force Space Command award earned by the local SMC Detachment within the past year. The team's package will now compete for honors at the Air Force wide competition.