BARKSDALE SELECTED INSTALLATION EXCELLENCE FINALIST

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BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Barksdale Air Force Base, La., has been chosen as one of two finalists for the 2012 Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence.

The award, established in 1984 recognizes "the outstanding efforts of the people who operate and maintain Department of Defense installations and who have done the best with their resources to support the mission," according to Air Force Instructions. The award encourages commanders to create an environment promoting innovative and creative ways of enhancing base-level services, facilities and quality-of-life.

The other finalist up for the award is Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The two bases were chosen from nominees from all Air Force major commands.

"We are thrilled to represent Air Force Global Strike Command at the Air Force level and showcase the way we train, care, and innovate at Barksdale," said Col. Scott Hoover, 2nd Mission Support Group commander. "Every member of Team Barksdale should be proud of this accomplishment. We are finalists because of the hard work and attention to detail of all Barksdale Airmen, active, reserve, civilian and contractor. This is a team sport and we have one stunning team!"

The Installation Excellence Selection Board will visit the finalists in mid- January, judging both installation's efforts in seven categories: improving work environment or physical plant, improving quality of life, enhancing work force productivity, increasing customer satisfaction and service, encouraging bottom-to-top communication, promoting unit cohesiveness and recognizing outstanding individual efforts, and initiating sustainable energy and environmental practices.

A $1 million prize goes to the winner and $500,000 to the runner-up for quality of life improvements on the installation.

"Congratulations to all the Airmen, officers and families of Barksdale Air Force Base because of their hard work and dedication, Barksdale has been selected as a finalist," said U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu. "Barksdale has worked tirelessly to provide our military families with high quality of life and educational opportunities, and I commend them for these efforts. The men and women of Barksdale serve our country with the greatest honor and distinction, and I believe there is no other Air Force base that is more deserving of this Installation Excellence Award."

For more information, call the 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs Office at (318) 456-5502 or (318) 456-3066. The office is open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. During off-duty hours, weekends and holidays call the command post at (318) 456-2151 and ask for the on-call public affairs representative.