Master Sergeant James Cook Awarded
Meritorious Service Medal
The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) is a military award presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the United States. Most MSM recipients are field grade officers (pay grades O-4 to O-6) and senior noncommissioned officers (E-7 to E-9), for exceptional meritorious service at that level of responsibility.
Master Sergeant James L. Cook distinguished himself in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as Quality Assurance Section Chief, 7th Maintenance Group, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.
During this period, Sergeant Cook Coordinated Block 4.9 D2 software test and evaluations, orchestrating every aspect of the contractor interface. MSgt Cook's efforts allowed this state-of-the-art upgrade to increase situational awareness which resulted in a safer B-1 target entry and egress.
Additionally, Sergeant Cook's supervision of assigned personnel achieved an average of 72.5 percent mission-capable rate for 12 straight months eclipsing Air Combat Commands standard of 67 percent during fiscal year 2003. This was the first time a B-1 unit had ever accomplished such a feat.
Finally, his exceptional expertise as an exercise evaluation team member during five Operational Readiness Exercises allowed him to build 27 checklists and conduct 1,500 inspections. His efforts contributed to the wing "Outstanding" rating during the Air Combat Command (ACC) Operational Readiness Inspection, the first ACC bomb wing to do so in 13 years.
The decoration order was signed by Colonel Garrett Harencak, 7th Bomb Wing Commander, and Major Jennifer Barnard, 7th Maintenance Operations Squadron Commander, presented the decoration.
