The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced the winners of the 2025 DoD Environmental Awards. The DAF winners are:

• Natural Resources Conservation, Large Installation: Hill Air Force Base, Utah
• Environmental Quality, Industrial Installation: Hill Air Force Base, Utah
• Environmental Quality, Overseas Installation: Kadena Air Base, Japan
• Sustainability, Non-Industrial Installation: Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
• Sustainability, Individual/Team: Moody Environmental Management Team, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia
• Environmental Restoration, Installation: Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico
• Cultural Resources Management, Individual/Team: 718th Cultural Resources Management Team, Kadena Air Base, Japan

In 2024, DOD selected the following DAF winners from a total of 31 nominees. Information about the winners and brief descriptions of their achievements are included below:

Natural Resources Conservation, Small Installation: Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota — Implemented a raptor translocation program to decrease the lethal take of 14 raptor species on base due to wildlife-aircraft collisions. The program translocated 55 juveniles, from six raptor species, 50 miles to be released on federal lands. These efforts reduced bird-aircraft strike risk, promoted natural raptor populations and contributed to scientific knowledge on raptor ecology, including movement and longevity.

Natural Resources Conservation, Individual/Team: Mr. Hugo Cobos, Kadena Air Base, Japan — Developed monitoring procedures and projects to protect species at Bellows Air Force Station. These efforts identified two endangered species at the station: the Hawaiian stilt and the Hawaiian moorhen. After identifying two Hawaiian stilt nests, Mr. Cobos worked with Bellows AFS staff and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop conservation measures, including maintaining a safe distance from the endangered waterbird breeding sites during the early incubation period. 

Environmental Quality, Non-Industrial Installation: Eglin Air Force Base, Florida — Demonstrated a commitment to stewardship and sustainability through enhancing habitat and fostering the protection of threatened and endangered species, including the Okaloosa darter. Eglin's expansive conservation efforts across 385,000 acres and 2,150 miles of range roads led to the Endangered Species Act de-listing of the rare fish species. 

Cultural Resources Management, Large Installation: Hill Air Force Base, Utah —Accommodated requests and extended invitations for tribal leadership and youth visits to the Trackway Site, an archaeological site containing over 130 footprints more than 12,000 years old. Tribal leadership contributed perspectives on managing, protecting and sharing this singular archaeological site and other sites to build strong relationships and promote future cooperative efforts.

Environmental Excellence in Weapon Systems Acquisition, Individual/Team: F-35 Lightning II Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Team, Maryland — Targeted hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen, for elimination on F-35 aircrafts by implementing a non-chrome fuel tank coating and a non-chrome rapid-cure fuel tank touchup kit at U.S. Air Force-owned manufacturing facilities and at F-35 depots.

For more information on the 2024 winners, visit: https://www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2024secdef/. 

In 2023, DOD selected the following DAF winners from a total of 26 nominees:

Environmental Quality, Overseas Installation: Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea — Published a Hazardous Materials Management Program and Hazard Communication Execute Order that directed a full review of all hazardous materials, hazardous material-using processes, and all HAZCOM programs. As a result, Osan Air Base accounted for 100% of all 6,000 hazardous materials and disposed of 40,000 pounds of expired or unnecessary hazardous materials.

 

Sustainability, Non-Industrial Installation: Kadena Air Base, Japan — Contracted a private energy company to implement a four-part Energy Savings Performance Contract to boost the installation's mission-critical energy resiliency. This project will generate more than $153 million in guaranteed cost savings over the performance period. The keystone of the $85.7 million project is a new generator and microgrid utility system, enabling the Air Base to sustain operations and meet critical mission requirements effectively during utility disruptions.

Sustainability, Individual/Team: 366th Environmental Management Team, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho — Overcame immediate water challenges derived from a rapid decline in its regional aquifer by employing mitigation measures including utilizing 89 million gallons of reused water from the base wastewater treatment plant for irrigation use and aquifer recharge. The base also secured a 14-mile water pipeline project that will further reduce aquifer withdrawal.

 

Cultural Resources Management, Individual/Team: Cultural Resources Office Team, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida — Improved Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range mission readiness by establishing partnerships, consultation parameters, and standard operating procedures to assess effects on cultural resources and ensure National Historic Preservation Act compliance. The SOPs saved an estimated $40 million expenditure during an EGTTR fiber-optic cable project.

For more information on the 2023 winners, visit: https://www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2023secdef/. 

In 2022, DoD selected the following DAF winners from a total of 26 nominees:

Environmental Quality, Non-Industrial Installation:  Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina — The base installed a supervisory controls and data acquisition system to continuously monitor production and treatment from six drinking water wells that serve 10,000 airmen, dependents, civilians, and contractors.    

Environmental Quality, Individual/Team:  Air Force Radioactive and Recycling Disposal Team, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio — The team provided 215 man-days of support for radioactive material (RAM) management and disposal actions at numerous U.S. Air Force installations in the continental United States.  They delivered a multitude of services that minimized contract costs by $1.2 million and resulted in over 123,000 pounds of low-level radioactive waste disposed and 65,000 RAM items recycled.

Environmental Excellence in Weapon Systems Acquisition, Individual/Team:  C-130 Program Office and Support Team, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia — The C-130 Team’s six-year project to evaluate non-chromate corrosion inhibiting sealants resulted in the implementation of three alternatives.  This significantly reduces worker exposure to a harmful carcinogen, eliminates 13,500 pounds of chromate waste annually, and saves $253,024 per year for the C-130 production line alone.

For more information on the 2022 winners, visit: https://www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2022secdef/. 

In 2021, the Department of Defense selected the following 4 Department of the Air Force winners from 27 nominees:

Natural Resources Conservation, Large Installation: Eglin Air Force Base, Florida — Developed a four-pronged approach to gopher tortoise conservation. Through a fiscal year 2020 memorandum of agreement with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Eglin became the primary recipient site for gopher tortoise populations that alternative energy production had displaced across Florida. During FY 2019-2020, conservationists moved more than 2,300 gopher tortoises to the installation and Eglin is on track to reach its goal of receiving 6,000 tortoises by 2023.

Environmental Quality, Overseas Installation: Yokota Air Base, Japan  — Employed an environmental inspection process that reduced the need for one-time shop ramp-ups for inspections. The team performed more frequent inspections spread throughout the year, which resulted in a smoother, more balanced workload. In FY 2020, Yokota Air Base conducted 174 environmental inspections and identified or corrected 17 out of 19 significant discrepancies, which increased environmental compliance by 90%.

Environmental Restoration, Installation: Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina — Completed two years of intensive Installation Strategic Acquisition Planning, which resulted in the early awarding of a multiyear $16.3 million Optimized Remediation Contract in August 2020. The three restoration projects achieved a record 10 site closeouts, two response complete milestones, and 11 optimized remedies.

Cultural Resources Management, Individual/Team: Thomas E. Penders, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida — Led six archaeological surveys, saving the 45th Space Wing an estimated $480,000. The surveys paved the way for the use of lands for the development of critical defense and launch programs identified in the 45th Space Wing General Plan while complying with the National Historic Preservation Act and Archaeological Resources Protection Act.

Click on the year below for more information about previous Department of the Air Force Secretary of Defense Environmental Award recipients or visit here.

In 2020, DoD selected the following DAF winners from a total of 30 nominees:​​

Environmental Excellence in Weapon System Acquisition, Large Program:  F-35 Joint Program Office, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio – monitored the use of cadmium, a human carcinogen, since the early development and production phases of the F-35 aircraft.  The team recently tested and successfully implemented a zinc-nickel plating alternative that will prevent corrosion on aircraft components and completely remove cadmium plating from F-35 aircraft production.

For more information on the 2020 winners, visit: https://www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2020secdef/.  

In 2019, DOD selected the following DAF winners from a total of 32 nominees:

Natural Resources Conservation, Large Installation: Eglin Air Force Base, Florida - relocated 1,030 gopher tortoises to avoid its listing under the Endangered Species Act and potential mission encumbrances. Eglin also conducted 160 prescribed burns across more than 145,000 acres on base, removing 290,000 tons of hazardous fuel biomass, and reducing wildfires caused by mission activities on test areas by 20%.

For more information on the 2019 winners, visit: www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2019secdef/.

In 2018, DOD selected the following DAF winners from 35 nominees:
 

Environmental Quality, Individual/Team: Frederick A. Javier, 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. – Provided outstanding leadership by training installation staff on environmental management and engaging with the local community to promote the DOD’s mission and science education.  For more information, visit: https://www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2018secdef/
 

Environmental Restoration, Installation: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. – Completed a 10-year performance-based restoration initiative resulting in response complete or site closure for 44 environmental restoration sites ahead of schedule and maintained accelerated or on-time closure for 55 additional sites. For more information, visit: https://www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2018secdef/
 

Environmental Excellence in Weapon System Acquisition, Large Program: Combat Rescue Helicopter Program Environment, Safety and Occupational Health Team, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio – Implemented programs to eliminate or reduce exposure to hazardous materials like hexavalent chromium (Cr6+). For more information, visit: https://www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2018secdef/

In 2017, DOD selected the following DAF winners from a total of 30 nominees:
 

Sustainability, Non-Industrial Installation: Eglin Air Force Base, Florida – displayed environmental leadership by recycling or reusing municipal solid waste, pursuing alternative energy sources, enhancing the prescribed burn program, and achieving designation as a clean and resilient installation.  For more information, visit:  www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2017SECDEF.cfm.
 

Sustainability, Individual/Team: Mr. Jeffery D. Schone, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona – implemented innovative projects and techniques to recycle demolition debris, reduce costs from ordering excess materials, and improve the installation’s wastewater treatment plant effluent to an A+ standard.  For more information, visit:  www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2017SECDEF.cfm.
 

Environmental Restoration, Installation: Travis Air Force Base, California – implemented successful restoration projects, created collaborative partnerships to protect human health and the environment, and made significant progress cleaning up groundwater contamination.  For more information, visit:  www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2017SECDEF.cfm.

For more information about the Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards Program, including past winners, please visit:  www.denix.osd.mil/awards.

The DAF winners chosen from a total of 30 nominations are:

Environmental Quality, Individual/Team:  Eglin Air Force Base Environmental Quality Team, Florida – demonstrated a holistic environmental management approach to exceed waste diversion and renewable energy goals, maintain compliance, and minimize impacts to the Mission.  For more information, please visit: www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2016SECDEF.cfm.

Environmental Restoration, Installation:  Beale Air Force Base, California – used an objective-focused restoration approach and collaborative partnerships to protect human health and the environment and make significant progress in cleaning up contamination from past defense activities.  For more information, please visit: www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2016SECDEF.cfm.

Environmental Excellence in Weapon System Acquisition, Large Program:  KC-46 Program Environment, Safety and Occupational Health Team, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio – employed a cross-functional team to integrate cost-effective environment, safety, and occupational health measures into the full system design lifecycle of the replacement aircraft for the U.S. Air Force aging tanker fleet.  For more information, please visit: www.denix.osd.mil/awards/2016SECDEF.cfm.

For more than 50 years, DoD has recognized the incredible work that the men and women within the Department do each day to protect the environment and our Nation’s resources.  Military Services and Defense Agencies submit nominations for each of the nine award categories.  A diverse panel of judges representing federal and state agencies, academia, and the private sector select the winners.

For more information on the DoD Environmental Awards Program, please visit: www.denix.osd.mil/awards.

The DAF winners chosen from a total of 35 nominations are:

Environmental Quality, Industrial Installation: Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, implemented an award-winning recycling program, a community partnered transportation incentive program, and a robust water quality program that manages 549 million gallons of wastewater per year. For more information, please visit: www.denix.osd.mil/awards/FY14SECDEF.cfm.

Cultural Resources Management, Individual/Team: Dr. Paul R. Green, U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center, superbly facilitated protection of sensitive historic properties and tribal areas. His accomplishments include curating nearly 30,000 historically significant Air Force engineering plans and drawings and developing cultural property planning data in support of contingency operations for multiple host nations. For more information, please visit: www.denix.osd.mil/awards/FY14SECDEF.cfm.

Since 1962, DoD has honored individuals, teams, and installations for outstanding environmental achievements and innovative environmental practices and partnerships. Military services and defense agencies submit nominations for each of the nine award categories. A diverse panel of judges representing federal and state agencies, academia, and the private sector select the winners.

For more information on the DoD Environmental Awards Program, please visit: www.denix.osd.mil/awards.