Environmentally Aware; Altus earns Platinum Star

  • Published
  • By A1C Jackson N Haddon
  • 97 Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Altus Air Force Base won an Oklahoma Platinum Star, May 2, 2018, from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.


The Oklahoma Star Incentive Program recognizes facilities that maintain and go beyond regulations to protect the environment and promote employee safety. The program is voluntary and the base entered it back in 2008 and has won two consecutive times, making this the 3rd time that Altus has received this award.


“Winning the award is not easy if you’re just a typical organization,” said Mike Reyes, an environmental management systems coordinator for the 97th Air Mobility Wing. “We’ve been very fortunate that our programs are designed and overseen well and our people believe in them, that they’ve become a continuous process.”


A number of categories are examined when determining whether or not the Platinum Star is received. Topics ranging from how well the institution handles resources to hazardous spills should they occur. Luckily, Altus AFB is dedicated to mitigating damage when it occurs and ensuring it doesn’t happen again.


“The program looks at the environmental aspects of the organization,” said Reyes. For us they look at air issues, water issues, hazardous waste issues and so on. We complied the numbers from all the different organizations on base for what they were doing and how they were staying environmentally aware; then we passed that information on to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.


According to Reyes, the bases standards are not only meeting, but well exceeding the standards for winning the Platinum Star. However, standards are only as good as those who uphold them, which is what made Altus stand out from the other competition.


“The culture here and the professionals we deal with are the reason we have this award,” said Mark Painter, a water quality and tanks program manager assigned to the 97th AMW. “Most Airmen are good Airmen and they want to do the right thing and that helps us to do our job.” 


While the environmental flight received the award, they see this as a base victory and achievement.


“This award wasn’t something we received, this was something the base received,” said Lori Stevens, an air program manager assigned to the 97th AMW. “Everybody who played their part and did their job is a part of how we received this award. We tracked everything, but airmen doing their job to the best of their ability is what allowed us to win.”