116th Air Control Wing to accept national aerospace award Published Sept. 13, 2012 By 116th Air Control Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The 116th Air Control Wing's combat crew one of the 128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, will accept the Air Force Association's Earl T. Ricks Award at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in Maryland Monday Sept. 17. The 128th ACCS will accept the award for "distinguished service" in support of Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector. The E-8C Joint Surveillance Attack Radar System led the dynamic targeting air campaign and enforced the no-fly zone. Combat crew one of the 128th ACCS detected ground movement, correlated intelligence and paired shooters to 177 surface to air missile systems, 11 aircraft, 175 ammunition depots, 169 tanks and 250 technical vehicles. Their ability to rapidly assess the changing battlefield allowed them to relay changes to the air tasking order and ensure offensive counter air shooters were safely positioned to deliver bombs on target on time, according to the Air Force Association. "This is a testament of our war-fighting capabilities and of our airmanship in contingency operations with NATO forces" said Lt. Col. John Verhage, commander, 128th ACCS. "I'm extremely proud of their accomplishment." The Earl T. Ricks award, a national award for Air National Guard personnel, was established in 1954 in honor of Maj. Gen. Earl T. Ricks who served as chief of the Air Force Division, National Guard Bureau.