JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Joint Base Andrews has been named one of two finalists for the 2015 Commander in Chief's annual Installation Excellence Award.
JBA is competing with Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom for bragging rights as the best installation in the Air Force.
Four evaluators conducted a site visit Jan. 11-13 to see first-hand the two headquarters, six wings, 80 tenant units and more than 17,000 service members and their families that make up JBA.
The CINC award seeks to recognize the outstanding and innovative efforts of Department of Defense installations around the world.
"Being selected as a finalist for this award is a testament to the many achievements of JBA service members, their families and our civic partners," Col. Brad Hoagland, JBA and 11th Wing commander, said. "It also represents the phenomenal teamwork between all the mission partners and services that make our mission successful...and a benchmark for the DoD."
The award recognizes the innovative best practices at an installation, and promotes a highly effective mission with an enhanced quality of life for service members and their families.
"The money that comes with this award goes straight back to the men, women and families that made it possible," Hoagland said. "I am truly impressed with the hard work and teamwork I've seen since I've taken command. It has not gone unnoticed."
The highly competitive presidential-level award recognizes outstanding support of DoD missions. The winning AF installation should be announced in February 2015, and will receive $700,000; the runner-up will receive $400,000.