Team Vance master sergeant best QAE in command Published Dec. 12, 2006 By 1st Lt Paula Bissonette Public Affairs Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- A Team Vance master sergeant earned the Air Education and Training Command Maintenance Quality Assurance Evaluator of the year award for 2003. MSgt Manni Nejade, 71st Flying Training Wing QAE, was a key player in aircraft maintenance management receiving an "Outstanding" rating during the 2003 Headquarters AETC Operational Readiness Inspection, according to the award nomination. "The ORI team said that we work harder than any other maintenance QAE shop they had inspected in the command," said Lt Col Dan Smith, aircraft maintenance management commander. "Sergeant Nejade works exceptionally hard at his job, he does it professionally and maintains a good relationship with the contractor while maintaining the standards for the Air Force." Sergeant Nejade completed more than 446 aircraft technical inspections on three separate airframe types; unmasking contractor discrepancies covering both shop procedures and compliance violations, according to the nomination package. In addition to his quality assurance duties, Sergeant Nejade was also an integral part of the wing's exercise evaluation team where he provided maintenance skills to base-wide exercises. "Winning this award felt good, I wasn't expecting it," Sergeant Nejade said. "I was always taught by my father to do a job for your self-pride, and if you do that you can be certain you did a good job and that's all that matters." "This award has a special meaning for me; since I plan to retire this summer, it's nice to go out like this." Next, Sergeant Nejade competes for the Air Force-level Maintenance Quality Assurance Evaluator award.