Peterson wins Facilities Excellence Recognition Program (FERP) top honors Published Jan. 27, 2009 By 2nd Lt. Jonathan Simmons 21st Space Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Air Force Space Command announced that Peterson AFB is the winner of the 2008 Maj. Gen. M.C. "Tim" Padden Award for the best large installation in facilities excellence. "Everyone's efforts exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and dedication to the command's successful Facilities Excellence Program," said Gen. C. Robert Kehler, commander of Air Force Space Command. "Thank you for your commitment to excellence." The Padden Trophy comes along with a $200,000 cash prize toward base improvements and quality of life. "This award is a testament to our mission of unsurpassed installation support," said Col. Jay Raymond, 21st Space Wing commander. "I'm grateful for the hard work that everyone on this installation puts into making it an award-winning base every day." A team from AFSPC visited Peterson on July 29-31, 2008, and performed a detailed evaluation of the base's ongoing initiatives in the areas of beautification, facility design, renovation and how each contributes to quality of life at Peterson. Many members of the 21st SW helped to solidify the winning of this award. "Randy Hawke, Cheryl Scharff and Paul Scoggins are key players in the facilities excellence program," said Al Rohr, 21st Civil Engineer Squadron chief of asset optimization. "But this victory was an installation-wide effort." "Facility managers were instrumental to our winning this award," added Randy Hawke, 21st CES facilities excellence architect for the 21st SW. "It takes the support of building managers all year round to maintain the top-grade types of facilities that were recognized by the FERP evaluators." During the visit, a team from the 21st CES showcased several locations on Peterson to the FERP evaluation team including the 21st Space Wing headquarters building and its first-of-a-kind in the Air Force GreenGrid roof, the new West Gate Visitor Control Center, and Peterson's historic district including the Medal of Honor Park. "Sustainability efforts at Peterson played an important role in the success of the FERP evaluation," said Mr. Hawke. "In particular, the Four B's Program plays very well into the base's Xeriscape applications that provide water efficiencies and appropriate AT/FP (antiterrorism and force protection) requirements for the base." The Four B's Program which includes features like berms, bushes, bollards and boulders is part of the base's sustainability arsenal that also includes the GreenGrid roof on Bldg. 845, renewable building products, and sustainability updates to the Facilities Excellence Program. "I'm extremely excited about the $200,000," said Mr. Hawke. "It will be put to good use in the base's quality of life programs. The best will never rest! And the Facilities Excellence Program is committed to pursuing a sustainable environment and a better quality of life for Team Pete."