The Space Development and Test Wing Space Raiders did well at their first ever Air Force Space Command Guardian Challenge competition.
They won the Brig. Gen. William G. King Jr. Trophy for the best systems wing in Air Force Space Command. The SDTW GC team was comprised of Maj. Jeremy Brown, Capt. Khirah Morgan, Capt. John Wodochek, Capt. Dawn Bethelmy and Dave Meyer.
Guardian Challenge pits the "best of the best" from each space wing in events that include space and missile operations, maintenance, security and now space acquisition and development. It is also the only space warfighter competition in the Air Force.
On April 1, the team was presented with a scenario where one of their upcoming satellite launches had to be moved up six and one half months. They had just four hours to develop a game plan that covered the technical, financial, contracting, and program management actions required to complete the scenario. Then they had 20 minutes to present their strategy to a panel of judges.
The culminating Guardian Challenge event was held May 8-9, at Peterson AFB, Colo., home of Air Force Space Command, where all of the GC teams gathered for the awards ceremony. Excitement was high during the score postings for the best Systems Wing trophy.
"We were the last team to have their score posted," said Dave Meyer. "The Military Satellite Communications Wing had already posted a score of 580 points out of a possible 600, so we thought they had won. When our score of 600 popped up, we couldn't believe it. It was a great feeling.
"We are incredibly proud that the SDTW Space Raiders team was able to compete in this year's Guardian Challenge competition," said Col. Ed Wilson, SDTW commander.
"General King is one of this nation's space pioneers, so it was a true honor for each member of the team that General King and his wife were able to present the award in person. Needless to say, we've set the bar high for others to aspire in future competitions."
"Tonight we honor Guardian Challenge competitors, the best in their business," said Brig. Gen. Ted Kresge, director of air, space and nuclear operations for Air Force Space Command, and the event's master of ceremonies. "The real Guardian Challenge is to take what you've learned back to your units, and make yourself and your units better."