Edwards captain wins MEO award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jason Hernandez
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  An Edwards captain received the Air Force Materiel Command 2006 Outstanding Military Equal Opportunity Individual Award recently.

Capt. Hector Morua, Edwards Military Equal Opportunity chief, won the award for the period of October 2005 to September 2006.

"I was shocked," Captain Morua said. "Competition at the MAJCOM level is stiff."
Captain Morua processed and helped resolve nine unlawful discrimination complaints. He is also credited with an innovative approach to running a critically-manned MEO office.

"He always encourages his staff to grow personally and professionally and asks nothing of us that he is not willing to do or already have done himself," said Tech. Sgt. Daphne Soto, former MEO noncommissioned officer in charge. "The MEO office has been critically staffed for some time, and, without his positive attitude and managerial style, the office would not have done as well as it has."

Captain Morua led a $15,000 environment upgrade of the MEO facilities and acquired more than $1,200 in cultural artifacts for display.

"The office transformed into a diverse learning center because of his eagerness in accomplishing the major self-help project," Sergeant Soto said. "Captain Morua's compassion and caring attitude is not just limited to his staff, but anyone he comes in contact with."

The project that improved the MEO office and classroom environment is considered crucial to improving the services MEO provides, Captain Morua said.

"We've done a lot in the last year with a self help project to paint the hallway, our classroom and our office," Captain Morua said. "Now we're working to put up displays of cultural artifacts with information sheets to foster more cultural understanding."

The award is extremely significant, Sergeant Soto said.

"It acknowledges that among an elite group, Captain Morua stood out among his peers and had a commitment to the Department of Defense, Air Force, AFMC and Edwards' vision towards equal opportunity and diversity," she said. "It also acknowledges his dedication to making the MEO program the best it can be."