Two AF civilians earn Defense Department's highest civilian honor Published April 1, 2010 By 1st Lt. Gina Vaccaro McKeen Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Department of Defense officials named two Air Force civilians winners of the 54th Annual Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award. The secretary of defense presented Dr. Jacqueline R. Henningsen of the Air Force District of Washington, Washington, D.C., and John W. Artuso of Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, with the award at a ceremony in the Pentagon Auditorium Dec. 18, 2009. The DOD Distinguished Civilian Service Award is the highest honor given by the secretary of defense to career civilian personnel whose service reflects exceptional devotion to duty and extremely significant contributions of broad scope to the efficiency, economy, or other improvements on the operation of the DOD, award officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here stated. Dr. Henningsen led the Air Force's analytic efforts in support of the Defense Department's various quadrennial defense review studies and advised senior leadership regarding capability and resource investment positions. She guided the integration of the Air Force lessons learned function into a joint collaborative function, which, officials say, increased the collection, dissemination, and implementation of vital lessons learned and ensured critical battlefield lessons were quickly available to warfighters. Dr. Henningsen also provided homeland defense analysis of the U.S. capability to defend against a homeland cruise missile attack. She used her analysis of threats, defenses and basing options to determine the effectiveness and associated costs of over 180 force structure alternatives, which provided senior leadership at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Northern Command, and the Air Force the necessary analysis to support future total force decisions, award officials stated. Her enthusiastic stewardship of the Air Force Combat Analyst Program ensured operational analytic support to combatant commanders worldwide, officials added. As the director of the C-5 Development System Office, Mr. Artuso led the C-5 modification program worth $18 billion. He also led the Reliability Enhancement and Re-Engining Program through the Nunn-McCurdy recertification process and established the foundation for enhanced strategic airlift capabilities that directly support national security needs, award officials stated. Additionally, Mr. Artuso served as the deputy systems program manager for the C-17 program where he ensured effective and efficient program execution, award officials said. For more information on this and other Air Force recognition programs visit the Air Force Personnel Center personnel services Web site or call the Air Force's 24/7 Total Force Service Center toll-free at (800) 525-0102. Follow us on Facebook at US Air Force Life and Career -Force-Life-and-Career/285437941864?ref=search&sid=1012753670.119738948..1> or on Twitter at AFCareers and USAF_Services