Air Force Space Command Headquarters. Photo: USAF

Last year's extensive Y2K public affairs program by NORAD, U.S. Space Command and Air Force Space Command, which sought to reassure the public that all command mission critical systems were Y2K compliant, has been recognized by the Public Relations Society of America with a prestigious Silver Anvil Award of Excellence for crisis communications.

The Y2K program culminated in four days of continuous media coverage from Dec. 27th to Jan. 1st. Forty-eight international and national news agencies based themselves at Cheyenne Mountain, here and at the joint U.S./Russian-manned Center for Y2K Strategic Stability (also located here) during the run-up to Y2K. Colorado Springs became a major focal point for media coverage and updates during the Y2K rollover.

"We are extremely proud of this high level award for our Y2K public affairs program," said Air Force Col. Don Black, Public Affairs director for all three commands during the Y2K rollover. "Our commands did tremendous work in preparing for Y2K and we went to great lengths to reassure the public of our preparedness and confidence in our people and our systems."

The award was announced during PRSA's Annual Awards Banquet recentlly in New York City.