Vance SNCO wins BIG award

Published Nov. 20, 2006
By Capt. Tony Wickman
Public Affairs

Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- There is a BIG man on campus ... Master Sgt. Spencer Parker, 71st Flying Training Wing MEO superintendent.
On Aug. 3, Col. Bryan Benson, 71st FTW commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Jim Suttles, 71 FTW command chief, told Sergeant Parker he was the Air Education Training Command nominee for the 2006 Blacks in Government Meritorious Service Award in the military category.
"You deserve this award and recognition for your steadfast support to the wing and Military Equal Opportunity mission," said Colonel Benson. "Your organization is one that a commander is glad not to hear from, because that means you are successfully accomplishing your mission."
According to Chief Suttles, Sergeant Parker earned the award because of his leadership and hard work on behalf of the Air Force and the Enid community.
"Sergeant Parker is a quiet professional and is proof that effective leadership can occur behind-the-scenes," Chief Suttles said. "Sergeant Parker safeguards our MEO process and I have absolute trust in his leadership. I could not be more proud of him and his well-earned award."
The Blacks in Government Meritorious Service Award is given to military members and Department of Defense civilian employees who distinguished themselves through significant contributions to their services, the advancement of African Americans and the nation.
According to Sergeant Parker, who was also selected AETC's Category II-B (small base) outstanding base-level MEO individual award winner in January, the BIG award is a testament to his hard work done to make the base and community better.
"I'm shocked, but it is a great feeling to win," said the Elm City, N.C., native. "When Lt. Col. (Bob) Brumley (director of staff) told me he was going to nominate me I was honored, but I didn't give myself much chance to win with all the great people doing their jobs for the Air Force."
Sergeant Parker said the award shows MEO is doing its job and that he is active in the community and able to touch many different projects and initiatives.
According to his nomination package, Sergeant Parker flawlessly managed a two-person office that conducted 13 assessments for more than 1,080 military members, and taught 35 courses for more than 570 Vance team members.
Looking for ways to increase mission effectiveness, the sergeant personally conducted 18 "out and about" visits to on- and off-base establishments to monitor the pulse of the human relations climate around the base and Enid. He also conducted a human relations enlisted dormitory survey involving 93 dorm residents, aiding the wing command chief with identifying and resolving key issues.
The other AETC nominee is Florence Clay, 334th Training Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. Both Sergeant Parker and Mrs. Clay will represent AETC at the Air Force-level competition.