Maintainer recognized for excellence

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Deborah M. Swanson
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  A 403rd Maintenance Group Quality Assurance chief inspector is the recipient of the 2013 Chief Master Sgt. Charles R. Gaffney Award.

The 403rd Wing recognized Master Sgt. Delphia A. Trippe for her superior service.

This annual award was created in March 2010 in honor of Chief Master Sgt. Charles R. Gaffney, 403rd Maintenance Squadron superintendent, for his hard work and dedication to the wing. The award recognizes a wing member who improved their unit, group, wing or other agencies by enhancing the quality of life, operational procedures, or work processes.

The Quality Assurance chief inspector said it's an honor to receive this award.

"This award has a special significance because Chief Gaffney is wrapping up a long and distinguished career," said Trippe. Chief Gaffney retires July 4 after 33 years of service.

"I personally received mentorship from him through my 22 years that I've been assigned to the 403rd Wing," said Trippe. "Additionally, he laid the ground work for many career advancements among our Airmen."

The master sergeant started out as an aircraft electrician in 1993, lead electrician on the C-130J test team in 1998, and then as an Air Reserve Technician in 2000 before transferring to 403rd Maintenance Group Quality Assurance in 2005.

In Quality Assurance, she is responsible for providing oversight of maintenance programs, safety, product improvement and efficiency of aircraft and parts. She evaluates personnel working on the flight line and oversees technical data improvement. Technical data is an instruction manual or guide maintainers use to perform aircraft maintenance.
In her current position she said customer care comes first.

"I'm a people person," said the senior NCO who has organized everything from ceremonies to inspections for her unit. "I like to help people get answers to things that they need, and treat people the way I'd like to be treated."

"She is the epitome of service before self, and it's not just at the shop level. It's at the group, wing and also internationally in the C-130J community," said Chief Master Sgt. Eugene D. Bernick, 403rd MXG Quality Assurance superintendent and Trippe's supervisor.

Trippe is the assistant Air Force Reserve Command logistics representative for the C-130J International Working group. Because of her involvement, Keesler was selected to host the International C-130J Maintenance Working Group conference in 2012 where senior maintainers, officers, contractors and international engineers came together to discuss product and process improvement for the aircraft worldwide.

"She is passionate about anything she is tasked to do or volunteers to do," said Bernick. "Because of that passion, she never lets anyone down."