CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Travis Hunter, a pharmacy technician forward deployed to the Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF), Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, has been named Joint Federal Pharmacy, Senior Pharmacy Technician of the Year, Sept. 23, 2018.
Hunter, a native of Amityville, N.Y., was nominated for the award by his chain of command at his permanent duty station, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, M.D., prior to his deployment, May 17, 2018.
More than 60 service members from all branches assigned as military pharmacy technicians were eligible for the award, which is given annually at the Joint Federal Pharmacy Seminar.
Hunter said when he was notified by his officer in charge at Walter Reed, his first thought was about all the technicians he works with.
“I was honored to win, but I was ecstatic to know that I did not win alone,” Hunter said. “I see this more as a unit award.”
Hunter supervises more than 40 military medical personnel from the Navy and Army at his Walter Reed command. He said he works with some of the finest people in military medicine and is proud to be on the team.
He said the people in his units, both back in the U.S. and here in Djibouti, reached out to him when they found out he was selected. “When I won, my officer in charge notified me, but throughout the day every one of my [coworkers] reached out to say congratulations – that really touched me,” Hunter said.
The award will be presented at the end of a week-long seminar planned for Oct. 21-24, 2018, in Kansas City, Mo. Hunter, who will redeploy in December 2018, will not be able to attend the ceremony.
EMF officer in charge, Navy Cdr. Mark Thomas, said it was not a surprise to any of the EMF members when they were informed that Hunter received the prestigious honor of Pharmacy Tech of the Year. He also said that Hunter has impressed and excelled as the lead pharmacy tech responsible for all the supply, inventory, and dispensing since arriving at Camp Lemonnier.
“[Petty Officer] Hunter is the type of dynamic leader who will see this award as more fuel for the fire that drives him,” Thomas said. “He is destined to achieve greatness in Navy Medicine."
Camp Lemonnier is one of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, installations that conducts six lines of operation to support air operations, port operations, safety, security, quality of life, and what is called the core: fuels, water and power that keep the base operating.
Camp Lemonnier’s mission includes enabling joint warfighters operating forward and to reinforce the U.S. – Djibouti relationship by providing exceptional services and facilities for the tenant commands, transient U.S. assets and service members.