General Devereaux, Sheppard named AETC's 2007 Eugene M. Zuckert Management winner

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  While the Air Education and Training Command 2007 Eugene M. Zuckert Management Award bears his name, Brig. Gen. Richard Devereaux said the award doesn't belong to him.

The Zuckert Management Award is presented annually to the Air Force's most outstanding top-level manager.

But, The 82nd Training Wing commander said the award isn't a representation of him - it's the military and civilian Airmen of Sheppard.

"We have an outstanding group of professionals here at Sheppard who execute the daily mission of creating the most technically sound and highly motivated warrior Airmen," the general said. "I just happened to be at the right place, at the right time."

The proof is in the pudding, General Devereaux said. From Oct. 1, 2006 to Sept. 30, Sheppard personnel have won 17 Air Force-level awards, another 81 from AETC and seven from Second Air Force.

Other accomplishments throughout the fiscal year included the graduation of more than 75,000 technical students, completion of multi-million dollar construction projects, implementation of cost-saving programs for the base and Air Force and participation of Sheppard personnel in more than 50 community events.

The installation was also recognized for having the third busiest airfield, launching more than 130,000 training missions that resulted in 154,000 flying hours for pilots at the 80th Flying Training Wing's Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program.

"The fantastic achievements we have here are a direct result of the professionalism of Team Sheppard," General Devereaux said. "Our people and the Airmen we train are technically the best."

More accolades for Sheppard came up the chain from Second Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Michael Gould.

"(General Devereaux's) leadership at the 82nd has been impressive in every respect," General Gould said. "Rick and Elizabeth, along with the entire Sheppard leadership team, to include the 80th FTW team, should share in this much-deserved recognition."

The winner of the Air Force-level award will be announced in May.