FORT DRUM, NY, UNITED STATES
01.28.2019
Story by Michael Strasser
Fort Drum Garrison Public Affairs
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FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Jan. 28, 2018) -- Fort Drum community members gathered Jan. 24 to recognize the accomplishments of civilian employees across the installation for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2019 as well as the 2018 Outstanding Civilian of the Year recipients.
The event was hosted by U.S. Army Medical Department Activity with the theme “New Year, New You.” Col. Brandon Bowline, MEDDAC commander, said that any occasion where members of the civilian workforce can be celebrated is a special one.
“I’m just amazed each day of the superheroes that we have from across this workforce, who we don’t necessarily see day in or day out,” he said. “But I assure you that there are a lot of people celebrating what you do to keep this installation going.”
The following employees received recognition for their contributions during the first quarter of 2019:
Wage Grade
Troy Hirschey, Public Works; and Richard Moyer Jr., Public Works.
Hirschey was awarded Civilian of the Quarter in this category and was commended for his exceptional service as a maintenance mechanic. His expertise and attention to detail are credited to the successful implantation of the preventative maintenance program for Fort Drum’s fire suppression systems.
General Schedule 1-8
Kenneth Corey, Directorate of Emergency Services; Marshall Eves, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate; Joee Frattali, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity; Sheila Gray, U.S. Army Dental Activity; and Darryl Sapoff, Directorate of Human Resources.
Sapoff, a human resource specialist, was named Civilian of the Quarter for this category and was commended for his work as the processing coordinator for all Soldiers arriving at Fort Drum.
General Schedule 9-12
Kenneth Erb Jr., Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security; Karin Fossett, Directorate of Resource Management; Barbara Gilbert, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity; George Gonas, Army Field Support Battalion-Drum; Amy Kilionski, Directorate of Human Resources; John Kimball, 1st Brigade Combat Team safety officer; David Rivers, 10th Mountain Division G6; and Donald Starr, Public Works.
Kimball was named Civilian of the Quarter in this category for this performance as the brigade safety officer. His knowledge and expertise were instrumental in the execution of the brigade’s intensive training cycle, and Kimball’s efforts contributed greatly to the safe execution of combined arms live fire exercises and the recent Mountain Peak exercise.
Supervisory
John Guckert, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate; Catherine Harruff, Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation; Randy Sitterly, U.S. Army Northeast Regional Network Enterprise Center; Matthew Stehr, U.S. Army Medical Department Activity; and Michael Tulley, 10th Mountain Division Command Safety Office.
Stehr was selected as supervisor of the quarter for his exceptional service as a Warrior in Transition Battalion physical therapist. He was credited with the healing, training and leading of Soldiers during the Warrior Games Trial in Hawaii, where the battalion won 30 medals.
After recognizing the Civilian of the Quarter nominees and winners, Maj. Gen. Walter E. Piatt, 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum commander; Command Sgt. Maj. Samuel J. Roark, 10th Mountain Division (LI) senior enlisted adviser; Col. Kenneth D. Harrison, Fort Drum garrison commander; and Eric Wagenaar, deputy to the garrison commander; recognized the 2018 recipients for Fort Drum Outstanding Civilian of the Year from each category.
Karen Harwood, a drug testing technician with the Army Substance Abuse Program, was named Outstanding Civilian of the Year for the GS 1-8 category. Harwood’s steadfast initiative and dedication were credited for ensuring the continued excellence in customer service and the success of ASAP.
Michael Tulley, supervisory safety and occupational health management specialist with the 10th Mountain Division Command Safety Office, was named Outstanding Civilian of the Year for the GS 9-12 category. Tulley was commended for his contributions to the readiness and mission success of the 10th Mountain Division through an engaged safety program.
The Outstanding Civilian of the Year for the Wage Grade category was Shawn Walker, an engineer equipment operator with Public Works. Walker was instrumental in the successful snow and ice removal operations, as well as the removal of 37 culverts and the installation of 27 culverts for a cost savings of more than $3 million.
Assistant Fire Chief Michael Marks, Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, was recognized as Outstanding Civilian of the Year in the Supervisory category for his performance as a supervisory fire protection inspector. Marks helped educate more than 12,000 Soldiers and family members from the Fort Drum community and tri-county region on fire safety.
Piatt said that it was his privilege to congratulate each of the recipients during the award presentation and also to thank the entire workforce for its service.
“I haven’t met every one of you yet, but every day I am totally amazed that we have someone with your skills, talent and attitude that can do those things that are necessary to make this city run and to keep this division ready,” he said.
In his remarks, Piatt said that the 10th Mountain Division (LI) relies on the civilian workforce at Fort Drum in countless ways every day.
“The bottom line is that you keep us ready – this is the foundation of our readiness,” he said. “When the nation turns to the Army, the Army always turns to the 10th Mountain Division. They never ask if we are ready, they expect it and they get, and that is because of all of you.”
