Spotlight on ShawFest: Lieutenant Buck Published April 21, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Daniel Phelps 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Soon, Shaw will be hosting as many as 150,000 people for ShawFest 2010, an open house and air show. When more than 50 aircraft come together for a two-day event, a lot of preparation and planning is involved. If anything drives, flies or explodes into raging balls of fire for an air show pyrotechnic effect, there's someone who made that possible. That someone is 1st Lt. Austin Buck, 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron logistics plans and programs officer-in-charge, and one of the major players for ShawFest 2010. For ShawFest, Lieutenant Buck is the logistics coordinator, pulling double duty between his two jobs. Currently, his time with ShawFest is taking up about 25 percent of his work schedule, but as the days to the event grow closer, it will take up more time. Lieutenant Buck is responsible for organizing all fuel for the event, including planes and vehicles, and oil for vehicles and pyrotechnics. He also is in charge of transportation needs for the event. Some of the transportation needs include at least 40 buses for travel between Shaw and the Sumter Mall, vehicles for Security Forces and golf carts for air show workers. All of the ShawFest participants who fly into Sumter, whether it's to perform or park their aircraft for a static display, also require vehicles so they can travel from their hotels to the flight line. The work that Lieutenant Buck does for ShawFest is mainly behind-the-scenes, and is currently in the preparation stages. Most of the vehicles he is working on procuring won't show up until the last day or a couple days before ShawFest. Some of the vehicles and fuel that are needed are internal assets so they are already here. The workload for preparing for ShawFest is tremendous, and Lieutenant Buck said he could not do it without the great people working for him. He has 2nd Lt. Mike Kretser helping him out, along with Tech. Sgt. Anthony Maikkula and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Miller organizing vehicle operations. Staff Sgt. Timothy Lofland is organizing fuels. They run routes, get the pricing, and do all the ground work. They do a great job at their everyday work and it has carried into ShawFest. When it comes time for ShawFest, Lieutenant Buck recommends parking at the Sumter Mall, which will be the only off-base parking spot. "Parking at the mall will allow people to avoid traffic congestion coming onto base," he said. "We're hoping the wait between buses will only be five to six minutes." Carpooling to ShawFest 2010 is highly encouraged. Air show guests may enter through the main or commercial gates on Highway 378. Airmen and signs will be in place to direct guests to the parking areas on base. Like the Sumter Mall shuttles, buses will move in a continuous circuit on base to take guests to and from the parking areas and the flight line. Buses will be color-coordinated red, white and blue, with the three parking areas: east and west parking areas on Shaw, and the Sumter Mall parking lot. Whatever color bus is taken to enter the flight line, should be the same color bus taken back to the parking area. Cars marked with clearly visible handicap placards or licensed plates should enter through the main gate and park in handicapped parking near the flight line. Individuals with a military I.D., and distinguished visitors should enter through the north gate. Military I.D. cardholders will also be admitted through the Frierson Road gate.