Avionics Airman aces course Published May 8, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Robert L. McIlrath 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- An Airman received the ACE award for making perfect scores in the C-17 integrated heavy avionics course May 6, 2014 at Sheppard Air Force Base. Airman 1st Class Patrick Smythe, 365th Training Squadron graduate and a Hackettstown, N.J. native, earned the ACE award for achieving a 100 percent average throughout 16 testable blocks of training. The C-17 Globemaster III integrated heavy avionics course consists of 18 blocks, 16 of the blocks being testable and two being hands-on. Avionics specialists are responsible for maintaining and repairing multiple onboard systems such as attack control, flight control, communications and navigation. Smythe is the first in his squadron to receive the ACE award in eight years. "I wanted to do the best I could do for my family," Smythe said. "He has proved he can apply himself and succeed," said Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Lopitz, 365th TRS instructor supervisor. "He is the epitome of excellence in all we do." Throughout the course, Smythe's success was contagious to his classmates. "It pushed everyone else in class to do as well as they could," Smythe said. "I couldn't have asked for a better student," Lopitz said. "He is probably going to be one of the best young new guys at the 514th." Smythe, a reservist, is assigned to the 514th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.