News

History offices awarded for telling Air Force story

  • Published
  • By Holly Logan-Arrington
  • Robins Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Robins Air Force Base is an integral part of not only Warner Robins history, but that of the U. S. Air Force as well - and its historians have that fact on the books.

Probably few know Robins' history better than William Head, 78th Air Base Wing History Office chief.

Head, the base's historian for more than 30 years, and his now retired colleague, Diane Truluck, were recently named recipients of the 2016 Dennis F. Casey Award for Excellence in Periodic History, John R. Burton Category, and the John R. Burton Award for Best Multi-Person Wing or Independent Group History Program Air Force-level awards.

Hard work and attention to detail propelled the duo to the history office's latest accolades, Head said.

"The history office once again, as it has for 32 years, produced a superior annual history ahead of schedule," he said. "We thoroughly researched the key events and programs which occurred in fiscal year 2015 describing and analyzing them in detail to provide senior leadership with a vital management tool for the upcoming year and well into the future."

The Excellence in Periodic History Award recognizes the best periodic history reports submitted during the past calendar year and recognizes historians who provided superior historical services to their unit and submitted a periodic history that exceeded standards during the past calendar year.

"In spite of the constant reduction in the size of, and funding for, our office, my retired colleague, Diane Truluck, and I have dedicated ourselves to producing the most professional and useful annual history in order to provide, not only a corporate record of the wing and complex, but to act as significant management tool for senior officials," Head said.

Additionally, The Air Force History Office awarded the Air Force Reserve Command History Office the John T. Bohn Excellence in Major Command History Programs Award for the second consecutive year for having the best major command history program in the Air Force.

Jim Malachowski, AFRC History Program director, said earning the award was a team effort.

"The award is the result of giving my team of talented historians who love what they do the freedom and the resources to do their job," he said. "It doesn't hurt that the command's 69,000 Citizen Airmen are involved in almost every operational mission the Air Force has, plus a few that are unique, to give us interesting topics to write about."

The awards' presentation will take place in the near future.