AFMC announces Robert T. Mason award nominees Published Aug. 18, 2009 Air Force Materiel Command Logistics Report WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- The Air Force Materiel Command has designated the Command's three Air Logistics Center's Depot Maintenance Wings as nominees to compete in the annual Robert T. Mason Award for Depot Maintenance Excellence. The Robert T. Mason Award is sponsored by the Secretary of Defense and is presented to the depot-level maintenance program which has distinguished itself through innovative and outstanding support to DoD operating units. Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, 76th Maintenance Wing nominated the 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group (76 AMXG); Ogden Air Logistic Center, 309th Maintenance Wing nominated the 526th Electronics Maintenance Squadron Bomb Lift Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (526 EMXS); and the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, 402d Maintenance Wing nominated the 402d Commodities Maintenance Group (402 CMXG) as nominees for this prestigious award. Among its accomplishments the 76th maintenance group provided unparalleled support to the warfighter across eight weapon systems, six commands and 40 Air Force bases. The 76th maintenance group along with the wing, OC-ALC, and Tinker AFB serve as Oklahoma's largest single-site employer, and contributes more than $3.4 billion annually to the state's economy while employing 27,000 military and civilian personnel. The 526th electonics maintenance squadron's bomb lift program MJ-1 and MHU-83 bomb lifts, known as "Jammer", are the backbone of the Air Force's aircraft weapons loading capability. These bomb lifts have been moving, handling, and lifting every type of ordnance, pod, and fuel tank in the Air Force's arsenal. The Jammers received their first overhaul with over 30+ years of service in 2006 and continue to enable rapid aircraft turnaround and/or reconfiguration from one mission type to another. The 402nd Commodities Maintenance Group of the 402nd maintenance wing, WR-ALC, and Robins AFB is the largest industrial complex in the state of Georgia, contributing more than $4.2 billinon to the state's revenue annually. The group directs, manages, and operates the industrial shops with a more than $150 million budget. The group provides programmed depot maintenance and field support for four major weapon systems and Special Operation Forces through major structural repair, manufacturing, modification, component , and special process repair. The 402nd group consist of four squadrons, occupying 32 facilities with more than 1 million square feet of industrial and administrative space and employs more than 1,400 personnel engaged in more than 80 different skills in support of approximately 22 major customers worldwide. The Robert T. Mason Award for Depot Maintenance Excellence goes to the winning depot-level program. The Phoenix Trophy is provided to the "best of the best" maintenance unit within the DoD. Both awards will be presented at the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards Banquet October 28 during the 2009 DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition in Phoenix, Arizona.