Spouse commanders take one two punch

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Success seems to run within the family of two Elmendorf squadron commanders.

Elmendorf commanders Lt. Col. Diana Stuart, 3rd Component Maintenance Squadron commander, and Lt. Col. Brian Stuart, 3rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, completed a one two punch for the 2009 Maintenance Effectiveness award. Colonel Diana Stuart took first in the small aircraft category and her husband Colonel Brian Stuart took second in the medium sized aircraft.

Colonel Brian Stuart was very proud of his wife's accomplishment.

"She's poured her heart and soul into that squadron," said Colonel Stuart. "It shows and it's a well deserved award."

Colonel Diana Stuart has been stationed at Elmendorf for almost three years, and has commanded two squadrons while she has been here. Before commanding the 3rd CMS for the last two years, she commanded the 3rd Maintenance Operations Squadron.

Colonel Diana Stuart gives all credit of this award to her Airmen in the 3rd CMS.

"They are a motivated and professional group of Airmen," said Colonel Stuart. "They're always looking for a better way to do things."

The reason behind the motivation and professionalism of the Airmen may come from the way the commander presents herself.

"She's an excellent commander," said Staff Sgt. Timothy Sullivan, 3rd CMS. "She's always looking out for her people, making sure if anything comes down she's right there for us."

Airmen like Sergeant Sullivan and the rest of the 3rd CMS are responsible for component repair on uninstalled engines, avionics, egress and hydraulics.

Colonel Diana Stuart said that her Airmen work extremely hard, day in and day out and give their all. She also said she feels cohesiveness and high morale play a big part in the success they've had.

The 3rd CMS aren't the only ones who put in a hard day's work. Colonel Brian Stuart said his maintainers of the 3rd AMXS are some of the best maintainers in the Air Force. He gave them praise for working in the conditions that they do with no shelter on the flight line. Alaska is known to have one of the harshest climates in the world, and the Airmen of the 3rd AMXS cope with it very well, according to Colonel Stuart.

"Teamwork, pride and always looking for a better way to do things," is how Colonel Brian Stuart described his group of Airmen.

The 3rd AMXS commander said no one went through more in the past year than his Airmen; they were on that flight line working to their full potential.

One of those Airman is Airman 1st Class Donte Slocum, 3rd AMXS, who said that he thinks highly of his commander. Airman Slocum also said that Colonel Stuart gets out to see his Airmen as much as he can, he's been out and around during base exercises and this past operation readiness inspection.

Colonel Stuart has been in the Air Force for since 1993 and has been in command of the 3rd AMXS for two years now. Prior to his recent command; he commanded the 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron.

Colonel Stuart said this is the first time his 3rd AMXS has placed at the Pacific Air Forces level. Both colonels will go forth to compete at the Department of Defense level, and they will find out the results toward the end of this year.