374th CONS earns two AF awards for 2011

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Members of the 374th Contracting Squadron who assisted with Operation Tomodachi pose for a group photo outside their building at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Oct. 25, 2011. The squadron won the Outstanding Contracting Unit Award, large unit, and received the special recognition award for their Operation Tomodachi team for 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

374th CONS earns two AF awards for 2011

Published April 19, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Desiree Economides
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Congratulations are due for the 374th Contracting Squadron at Yokota for earning two 2011 Air Force Contracting fiscal year awards.

The 374th CONS won the Outstanding Contracting Unit Award, large unit, and received the special recognition award for their Operation Tomodachi team.

"Earning this award can be attributed to two things," said Lt. Col. Michael Hackman, 374th CONS commander. "First, the personnel in this squadron are very professional and do a tremendous job all year-round. Second, I think that everyone really took it up a notch in response to Operation Tomodachi and that didn't go unrecognized."

According to the award nomination, the 374th CONS supported 35 military installations in mainland Japan and administered $1.3 billion for 2,259 contracts in 2011. They also bought and delivered the $3.8 million critical fresh water pump system for the Government of Japan, which averted the Fukushima-Diachi Power Plant nuclear core meltdown.

The unit, which is the sole Department of Defense contracting authority for mainland Japan, is comprised of 59 civilians, U.S. and Japanese Nationals, 26 Airmen and two Soldiers.