PAE lightning bolt award presented to base mailman

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Frank Casciotta
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  One of the mail carriers here earned the PAE Lightning Bolt award April 8 for saving the Air Force $1,900.

Norris Williams is the postal administration and official mail center chief and a Camilla, Georgia, native.

The Lightning Bolt Award recognizes PAE employees who demonstrate exceptional efforts and achievements that contribute to Vance's mission and core values.

"Shortly after the last Combined Unit Inspection in 2013, a couple of things happened," said Mark Suttles, the information technology director at Vance. "The U.S. Postal Service began talking about reduction in their operations and closure of the Postal Service Center here."

Around this time, Williams began reviewing old accounts to find a way to save money on postal costs.

"I found a forgotten account we set up in 2009 with money in it that was just sitting there," said Williams.

Williams discovered $1,900 that was originally intended for special bulk rate mailings, like newsletters to retirees in the local area.

"If I didn't find that account, the money would still be sitting idle today," said Williams.

Now, the funds are being used for bulk mailing or turned back to the Air Force's general operations account, said Suttles.

Williams has been delivering mail and managing the postal services here since he separated from the Air Force nearly 40 years ago.

"I was just doing my job," said Williams. "I didn't expect anything from it, but the award was a pleasant surprise."

Williams works for DenMar, a subcontractor, which among other things, takes care of postal service delivery on the base. The nomination package was submitted through his boss in Oklahoma City.

"Norris' daily efforts and outstanding customer support were important factors and inspiration for why I nominated him for the award," said Suttles.

In recognition of his services Williams received coins from both PAE and DenMar. He is the first person at Vance to receive coins from both companies.

The award consists of a certificate, a monetary award, and a PAE coin presented by the program manager.