FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Jan. 31, 2020) -- Civilian employees across the Fort Drum garrison gathered Jan. 30 for the Civilian of Year / Civilian of the Quarter luncheon at the Commons.
The event was hosted by the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, with the theme “Fort Drum’s Finest Winter Warriors.” Andrew Kennedy, DPTMS director, described a winter warrior as a dedicated professional who has chosen to live and work in the North Country and who can endure even the harshest conditions of the area’s seemingly longest season.
“Regardless of the conditions, winter warriors will embrace the challenge and continue to provide support to the Soldiers, families and communities of the North Country,” Kennedy said.
In the past year, more than 100 civilian employees were recognized during the quarterly award ceremonies. All Civilian of the Quarter nominees are eligible to be named Civilian of the Year in their category. Nominees are evaluated and scored on specific performance criteria, to include complexity of tasks performed, customer service, support to mission and innovation in the performance of their duties.
The Fort Drum garrison command team recognized the 2019 recipients for Fort Drum Civilian of the Year for each of the following categories:
General Schedule 1-8
Jack Newman, from the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, was named Civilian of the Year in the GS 1-8 category. Newman’s initiative and expertise as an air traffic assistant was instrumental in helping to improve operational conditions at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield to support future needs of the Department of Defense.
General Schedule 9-12
Robert Avar, from the Directorate of Public Works, was named Outstanding Civilian of the Year in the GS 9-12 category. Avar distinguished himself as a general engineer within PW’s Master Planning Division and was responsible for managing the installation’s top three projects, as well as the top Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program project. He accelerated the development of a $16 million Military Construction Army project to expand the ground water production wellfield and Railhead Expansion project.
Supervisory
Jennifer Keenan, from the 10th Mountain Division (LI) G-8, was named Civilian of the Year in the Supervisory category. Keenan was commended for her exceptional performance as a supervisory budget analyst, her knowledge of the budget process and financial systems, and for her selfless service, initiative and focused attitude. These attributes positively impacted the division’s ability to execute funding received on high-priority requirements, which led to increased unit and Soldier readiness.
Wage Grade
Brian Croft, from the Directorate of Public Works, was named Outstanding Civilian of the Year in the Wage Grade category. As an engineer equipment operator, Croft was commended for providing essential repairs to critical drainage systems at culverts 32 and 33 to support the division training mission. His knowledge and expertise were instrumental in snow and ice removal operations throughout Fort Drum.
The following employees received recognition for their contributions during the first quarter of 2020:
General Schedule 1-8
Michelle Allen, Directorate of Emergency Services; Marshall Eves, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate; Jeannie Gibbs, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation; Crystal Headley-Finfrock, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity; and Schuyler Nail, Army Field Support Battalion.
Nail was awarded Civilian of the Quarter in the GS 1-8 category.
General Schedule 9-12
Keri Donahue-Teufel, Directorate of Human Resources; Kathy Dyer, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity; Shawn Graham, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate; Hunter Hutcheson, U.S. Army Northeast Regional Network Enterprise Center; Tracy Medeiros, Directorate of Resource Management; Rosemary Rhue, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security; and Leslie Sorensen, Criminal Investigation Division.
Rhue was named Civilian of the Quarter in the GS 9-12 category.
Supervisory
Kevin Edmonds, Directorate of Emergency Services; Clifford Head, Directorate of Human Resources; Kenneth Hersey, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security; Todd Slate, Directorate of Emergency Services; Priscilla Wood, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity; and David Yates, Directorate of Public Works.
Kenneth Hersey was named Civilian of the Quarter in the Supervisory category.
Wage Grade
Rodger Fuller, Public Works; Ed Klepez, Public Works; Allen Longacre, Army Field Support Battalion; and Ronald Petras, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.
Longacre was awarded Civilian of the Quarter in the Wage Grade category.
Col. Jeffery Lucas, Fort Drum garrison commander, congratulated each of the recipients during the ceremony. During his remarks, he thanked the civilian workforce for their contributions to the 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum.
“The civilian workforce on our installation is really the continuity, it is the 24/7 (operations) that happen around the installation and in our community every single day,” he said.
Lucas noted that it is not just the garrison workforce that is honored during these award ceremonies, but also the employees who work within tenant units, such as the Army Field Support Battalion and Network Enterprise Center.
He said that is easier to publicly identify and thank a service member by the simple fact that their name is sewn into their uniform.
“It is much harder for us to identify those in our civilian workforce sometimes because they blend in so well, and we don’t always stop to say thanks for all that you do for all of us – our Soldiers, our families, our division,” he concluded.