Courtesy Photo | When he was two years old, Robert W. Bush was diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to a...... read more read more
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Some of them are legally blind, some partially paralyzed, some are wheelchair-users, and one of them has epilepsy. But none of that stopped them from realizing the American dream or from becoming outstanding DoD employees.
"Their extraordinary accomplishments show the importance of broadening the circle of inclusion in the workplace," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said in a National Disability Employment Awareness Month message.
Eighteen employees with disabilities were selected by their organizations from among thousands of DoD employees worldwide to receive secretary of defense certificates for outstanding accomplishments. This year's outstanding DoD employees with disabilities are:
o Jolanda L. Allen, deaf since birth, is a procurement technician in the Contracting Office at the National Imagery and Mapping Agency in St. Louis. She was recognized for outstanding performance in a variety of support services to contract specialists.
o Patrick W. Birello, a personnel assistant at the Department of Defense Education Activity in Arlington, Va., earned three outstanding performance appraisals and four on-the-spot cash awards in less than four years. Born with muscular dystrophy, Birello was praised for being "a self- starter with excellent computer skills who provides exceptional service to co-workers and applicants."
o Robert D. Brackin, a line item business manager at the Defense Commissary Agency, Fort Lee, Va., performs global cataloging of grocery items that helps ensure store customers get the lowest possible prices. Brackin was born with a number of birth defects because his mother contracted measles during pregnancy.
o Stanley Brown, partially paralyzed from a stroke, was honored for his contributions as a multimedia visual information specialist at the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington.
o Robert W. Bush was cited for "consistently superior" computer programming work at the Defense Logistics Agency in Columbus, Ohio. His most recent accomplishments include fixing several hundred mainframe Y2K problems that were missed by contractors. Bush has cerebral palsy.
o Emily A. Fryckman, an auditor with the Defense Contract Audit Agency in El Segundo, Calif., was recognized for mastering "many difficult and complex assignments during her 22-year career." Fryckman has lupus, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
o Robert M. Hattiger, a paraplegic, has received numerous awards during his seven years as a financial systems administrator with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in San Diego.
o Tammy J. Johnson, deaf for more than 30 years, is a data transcriber at the Defense Contract Management Agency in Bellevue, Wash., cited for initiative, resourcefulness and outstanding ability in performing any mission given her. In addition to tracking agency purchases and expenses, she also manages mileage records of the agency's automobile fleet.
o Roosevelt A. McCoy, who is hearing impaired, cares for more than 300 research animals as a caretaker leader at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md. He was praised as "a creative problem solver who manages an impressive workload that continues to grow."
o Sheila M. Noel, who lost her legs in an automobile accident, is an employee relations specialist with the 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., who has received numerous honors and awards. She holds the Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Medal.
o Linda L. Politz was recently recognized for her work as Combined Federal Campaign chairwoman and as a member of the Disability Advocacy Council at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service at Fort Lewis, Wash. Recently diagnosed with post polio syndrome, Politz has worked for AAFES since 1976 and is now a supervisory learning facilitator who guides co-workers in professional development.
o Patrya D. Richardson is the secretary to the director of program integrity in the Office of the Inspector General in Arlington, Va. She is the recipient of several consecutive outstanding performance ratings and monetary and time-off awards.
In 1995, her right leg was amputated above the knee as part of treatment for cancer.
o David Rosenbaum, a senior engineer at the Naval Sea Systems Command in Philadelphia, Pa., is a highly respected member of the Navy's maintenance community. A member of the Interactive Electronic Technical Manual Section, he is responsible for a variety of electronic manuals for combatant ships.
Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in 1982, Rosenbaum has used a wheelchair since 1999. Among a host of other accolades, Rosenbaum consistently receives outstanding performance ratings and has been the recipient of several special act awards. This year, he's a nominee for the prestigious AEGIS engineering excellence award.
o Gail S. Sweet was recognized for outstanding accomplishments as the leader of a team of 25 military, civilian and contractor personnel who provide round-the- clock technical and functional support for two critical databases serving more than 600 users worldwide.
Sweet, a diabetic whose right leg was amputated below the knee two years ago, began dialysis treatments because of kidney failure last year. Her office provides a motorized scooter, and her work area has been modified so she can enter and exit with ease.
o Vickii Thomas was honored for many outstanding accomplishments as a medical records administrator at Irwin Army Community Hospital, Fort Riley, Kan. Among them was her "extraordinarily successful efforts in collecting disputed and previously unbilled claims from insurance companies."
Thomas is credited with collecting more than $200,000 since January 2001 when she was assigned as supervisor of the Uniform Business Office. Officials said without the money she collected, the hospital would have had to cancel valuable services for which no funds were available.
Thomas broke her neck in an automobile accident in 1965.
o Edward Weiss, a wheelchair-user with multiple sclerosis, is an information release assistant at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in Alexandria, Va.
Even though he has limited dexterity in his shoulders and fingers, Weiss is an award-winning artist. With the help of a special computer program, he hand-tints photographs with oil paint. His work won first place at the 2000 Photography Artability Expo National Show in Malvern, Pa., and the 1999 Prince George's County (Md.) Artists Association Annual Show.
o Marilyn L. Werner, who has epilepsy, was praised for being "an outstanding employee" who has earned numerous awards for her work. An administrative assistant in the Defense Security Service Inspector General Office, Werner provides administrative and logistical support during inspections and assists with the planning and execution of other office functions.
She occasionally has seizures at work, but needs no accommodations to do her job.
o Cynthia K. Worley, who is legally blind in her right eye due to multiple choroiditis, was cited for outstanding customer service as an administrative services specialist with the Office of the Secretary of Defense's Washington Headquarters Service.
Worley, who reads with the assistance of zoom software on her computer, commutes over 200 miles to work each day in a vanpool.
Story by Rudi Williams, American Forces Press Service
| Date Taken: | 12.18.2001 |
| Date Posted: | 07.03.2025 23:33 |
| Story ID: | 526966 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 1 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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