FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Maneuver Support Center of Excellence leaders recognized the center’s Civilians of the Year, for fiscal year 2025, during an awards ceremony July 7, 2026, in Lincoln Hall Auditorium. Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, said the Department of the Army civilians serving at Fort Leonard Wood are “incredibly important to our mission.” “We cannot do what we do every single day for the Army without our civilian teammates,” Beck said. “They are critical to every part of our mission.” Guest speaker, Douglas Babb, MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood deputy to the commanding general, said civilians provide the vital continuity needed to sustain operations amid regular military rotations, offering a critical foundation of stability, especially “during times of change and transition.” “Day in and day out you stay true to our primary task of training the next generation of Soldiers and driving change for the Army,” Babb said. “Your mission focus, dedication to duty and tireless efforts help to address challenges and solve problems.” The four award categories align with MSCoE’s four enduring priorities, each with three levels of awards. Beck said these four priority areas serve as the foundation for operations and strategic initiatives.
Drive Change That Shapes the Force of the Future Army category:
Foundational: Brenda Sutton, Field Management Expansion Tank-automotive and Armaments Command
Advanced: Christopher Smith, 14th Military Police Brigade
Strategic: Robert Davel, Directorate of Training Transformation and Training Command
Leader Development and Steward the Profession category:
Advanced: Jeffrey Williams, U.S. Army Military Police School
Strategic: Justin Vogt, Transformation Integration Directorate T2COM
Care For, Retain and Inspire Soldiers, Civilians and Families category:
Foundational: Caleb Cantrell, Field Management Expansion TACOM
Advanced: Jequita Edwards, Integrated Prevention Advisory Group T2COM
Strategic: Sharon Washington, Directorate of Human Resources Installation Management Command
Train Warriors of Character category:
Foundational: Richard Owens Jr., 3rd Chemical Brigade
Advanced: Robert Hartness, Field Management Expansion TACOM
Strategic: Julie Dye, MSCoE G8
To view the awardee photos from the ceremony, visithttps://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD1WZ2.