Civil Engineer presented with Bronze Star Medal

  • Published
  • By 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Staff
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Maj. Gen. Michael Carey, 20th Air Force commander, presented Master Sgt. Michael Padgett, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron superintendent of facility systems, with a Bronze Star Medal on July 18 for accomplishments while deployed to Southwest Asia from August 2011 to February 2012.

According to the recommendation for the award, Padgett excelled in the following areas:
 He led a 32-person construction team in the execution of 23 troop construction projects valued at $1.5 million, which provided initial and final operating capability to 13 battle space owners and 15,000 Coalition Forces at 30 forward operating locations.

 He directed 28 site assessments and ensured repairs to 18 combat outposts, four local national police stations and six local national Army posts. His efforts ensured safe facilities for 4,000 Coalition Forces, enabling full employment of combat forces and advancing freedom of movement while furthering counter-insurgency operations.

 He led the $250,000 compound expansion for the 11 Marine Expeditionary Force's linguist center, increasing the office space by 50 percent while protecting $30K in communications equipment and ensuring no disruption in command and control operations for the 1,000 linguists dispersed to 150 forward operating bases throughout the deployed region.

 He directed the construction of a 2,500 square foot, 25 room MEDEVAC crew rest facility and managed more than $365K in supplies, ensuring materials and personnel movement occurred on time. His efforts resulted in enabling quicker medical response time to service 56 combat outposts, 5,000 Coalition Forces and 20,000 local nationals.

Padgett, who has been stationed at Malmstrom since November 2010, resides on the base with his wife Melissa, sons Chance and Cameron, and daughter Cadence.