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Air Force Medical Service History Office recognized for excellence

  • Published
  • By Kevin M. Hymel
  • Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs
FALLS CHURCH, Va. --  Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Mark Ediger honored the Air Force Medical Service History Office by presenting two awards to senior Historian Judith Taylor, Nov. 16 during the 2015 Senior Leadership Workshop at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Va.

The History Office earned the Brig. Gen. Brian S. Gunderson Excellence in History Programs Award, for new and improved programs and efforts to spread the word about Air Force Medical history, such as expanding the AFMS master chronology, facilitating the AFMS History website, building an online Air Force emblem collection, establishing a first-ever AFMS historical property account; and creating the first AFMS archival finding aid. “It was a banner year!” said Ms. Taylor, reflecting on the recognition her office received. 

The office earned the second award, the 2014 Air Force Heritage Award, for establishing the AFMS Heritage Room at Wilford Ambulatory Surgical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. The room includes a timeline and video history of the AFMS. The timeline has already been reproduced for the medical group at the 47th Flying Training Wing at Laughlin AFB, Texas, and the Air Force dormitory at the Medical Education and Training Campus at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. The video can be found on YouTube. “A lot of hard work went into this exhibit highlighting the AFMS’ magnificent successes accomplished over the years,” said Taylor.

The Gunderson Award recognizes direct reporting units and field operating agency history offices for the excellence of their overall program during the calendar year. The Heritage Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments by Air Force history and museums personnel that foster a better understanding and appreciation of the Air Force, its history and accomplishments.

“Our work is very important,” said Ken Stewart, the History Office’s archivist. “It provides us an opportunity to share the impact of AFMS on the warfighter specifically, and in general on the rest of the world.”