PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Just like people, organizations need regular checkups to make sure that they are healthy and that everything is functioning the way it’s meant to. That’s why wings across the Air Force maintain inspection programs. The Air Force Space Command Inspector General recently concluded a week-long capstone inspection of the 21st Space Wing that dove into its different organizations and programs.
This capstone inspection was the culmination of a larger, 30-month, unit effectiveness inspection period in which the IG also conducted several on-site visits at Peterson Air Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado; Cavalier Air Force Station, North Dakota; Thule Air Base, Greenland; and the Maui Space Surveillance Complex, Hawaii.
Inspection team members looked at the wing through the lens of four major graded areas to create a comprehensive assessment of unit effectiveness. Those areas are executing the mission, managing resources, improving the unit and leading people. Each area and wing as a whole can be graded ineffective, marginally effective, effective or highly effective.
The 21st SW was graded effective overall and within each of the major graded areas.
“The UEI evaluates commander’s inspection program accuracy, adequacy and relevance, and it provides an independent assessment of the wing’s resource management, leadership, process improvement efforts and ability to execute the mission,” said Tech. Sgt. Shierae Bryan, 21st SW IG inspection planner. “The UEI focuses on identifying areas where risks from undetected non-compliance are greatest and aiding wing commanders in identifying areas for improvement in the Commander’s Inspection Program.”
Col. Thomas Falzarano, 21st Space Wing commander, said that while there’s always going to be areas that have room for improvement, he believes that the wing nailed the inspection as a team.
“The IG was thoroughly impressed with your professionalism,” he said. “I appreciate everything you do every day.”
The IG also recognized individuals and teams within the wing that stood out as professional performers.
“We have an entire wing of outstanding and amazing airmen and professional performers and I wish we could catch all of you doing great things,” Falzarano said.
Individual professional performers included:
- Master Sgt. Lance Tressler, 21st Space Wing Chapel
- Staff Sgt. Kevin Acevedo-Nunez, Diance Boldt and Sara Plambeck, 21st Space Wing Judge Advocate
- Senior Airman Joseph Kerlavage, Kimberly Gresens and James Parkinson, 21st Comptroller Squadron
- Master Sgt. Heather Witworth, 21st Medical Group
- Capt. Louis Pagano and Staff Sgt. Alyssa Perez, 21st Medical Squadron
- 1st Lt. Felicia Williams, 21st Medical Support Squadron
- Senior Airman Siara Pinick and Tech. Sgt. Dwain Tolbert, 21st Operational Medical Readiness Squadron
- Walter Heathcoat, 21st Force Support Squadron
- Kylie Hager, 21st Contracting Squadron
- William Bland, 21st Logistics Readiness Squadron
- Senior Airman Anthony Bustamante, 21st Security Forces Squadron
- 1st Lt. William Jeffers and 1st Lt. Rio Sarmiento, 16th Space Control Squadron
Professional teams included:
- The community support coordinator/violence prevention integrator team
- The Colorado Springs Regional Command Post training team
- The 21st Space Wing Public Affairs command information division team
- The 21st MDSS medical readiness team
- The 21st Health Care Operations Squadron tactical combat casualty care team
- The 21st OMRS deployment availability working group
- The 21st CES electrical and power production shops and readiness and emergency management teams
- The 21st SFS alpha flight element one east gate, golf one days/mid-shift, standardization and evaluation and visitor control center teams
- The 16th SPCS resource advisor team and training flight