HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AFNS) — The Air Force Association recently honored an Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center colonel with the 2017 Gen. Larry D. Welch-Officer Award.

The award recognizes the individual with the most significant impact on the overall operations, safety, security and effectiveness of the Air Force’s nuclear mission. It is named after Gen. Larry D. Welch, former chief of staff of the Air Force, who was and remains a driving force in improving the Air Force nuclear enterprise.

This year’s recipient, Col. Scott Jones, distinguished himself as the director of AFNWC’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems Directorate at Hill Air Force Base.

Jones expertly led a team of more than 900 civilian, military and support contractors in the sustainment and modernization of the Minuteman III ICBM that comprises the ICBM leg of the nation’s strategic nuclear triad. Jones is also responsible for organizing, training and equipping activities for the entire directorate, including acquisition of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent missile system, which will recapitalize the Minuteman III weapon system. Jones was also instrumental in the development and execution of the first Programmed Depot Maintenance effort for the more than 50-year-old Minuteman III weapon system, an effort critical to sustaining the weapon system through 2035.

In addition, Jones pioneered the directorate’s transition to a risk-to-resource effort that tiered and funded 175 sustainment and acquisition efforts, saving $45 million per year. Jones also administered a $963 million contract transition which funded 29 projects.

“Col. Jones’ extraordinary leadership, attention to detail and determination have been pivotal to strengthening and sustaining the ICBM leg of the nuclear triad, which is key to delivering nuclear capabilities warfighters use every day and contributes significantly to ensuring our nation’s most powerful weapons are never doubted and always feared,” said Maj. Gen. Scott Jansson, the AFNWC commander and program executive officer for strategic systems.

Headquartered at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, AFNWC has about 1,100 personnel assigned to 17 locations worldwide, with about 600 at Hill AFB in its ICBM Systems Directorate.

By Staff Sgt. William Duran, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Public Affairs