F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- The 90th Medical Operations Squadron here carries out a large mission with a variety of job components. One of those components is bioenvironmental engineering.
Bioenvironmental engineering provides operational health risk assessment expertise to enhance commander decision-making and health service support capabilities. They conduct these assessments for all shops on base and in the missile field through water sampling, indoor air quality surveys and ventilation surveys.
"We'll go into a shop and find out what's happening that might be unsafe for personnel that work there," said Senior Airman James Bryant, 90th MDOS bioenvironmental engineering technician. "We check to see if they're wearing the correct gloves or masks to protect them from certain chemicals and we check the ventilation to ensure proper control of contaminants."
Bryant mentioned that water testing is a big part of what they do on a normal basis.
"There are seven areas on base that are mandated as water sampling points to ensure all the water is safe for consumption," Bryant said. "We test for pH, chlorine and bacteria. Also, every three years we test for lead and copper."
Bioenvironmental engineering also works closely with the emergency management team on base. Master Sgt. Brandon Ward, 90th Civil Engineering Squadron Readiness and Emergency Management superintendent, said they support one another during response and recovery operations.
"In addition to approving personal protective equipment utilized by the unit, they are also responders that support the team with emergency management during hazardous materials responses," Ward said. "We work hand in hand when collecting and packaging samples that will be sent to the lab for analysis."
Staff Sgt. Kayla Scobey, 90th MDOS NCO in charge of occupational health, said Bryant has a strong work ethic and he's a star in their shop.
"Airman Bryant is always busy doing something, and he's a crucial component of our work center," Scobey said. "He's our equipment manager, so he orders and maintains everything. He put together an entire equipment package for new air sampling pumps and even drove to a nearby Air Force base to borrow equipment so we could carry out the mission."
Bryant said he enjoys making a difference and keeping people safe and healthy.
"I love that I'm not stuck behind a desk all day because I get to go to every shop on base and see what everyone else is doing," Bryant said. "I want people to know that when we do these surveys and assessments, we're not there to get anyone in trouble. We're just trying to improve the work environment and make it safer."