Twelve Huntsville Center employees, one project development team and one former employee received awards at the Engineer Day Awards ceremony June 6 at Monte Sano State Park. Last year, Huntsville Center leadership decided to not conduct the annual Engineer Day Awards ceremony due to furlough and sequestration.
Each year, the Corps of Engineers celebrates Engineer Day with the awards ceremony and an organization day picnic. The day celebrates the beginnings of the Corps of Engineers when on June 16, 1775; the Continental Congress organized an army with a chief engineer and two assistants. Colonel Richard Gridley became General George Washington's first chief engineer; however, it was not until 1779 that Congress created a separate Corps of Engineers. The event also serves as a celebration of the 239th Army Birthday and Flag Day, which is June 14. Flag Day recognizes the adoption of the U.S. flag.
Recognized at the ceremony:
• Administrative Support Employee of the Year – Tracy Helmick
• Innovator of the Year – Jordan Miller
• Volunteer of the Year – Melissa Kelly
• Contracting Professional of the Year – Alan Fearns
• Program Manager of the Year – Dennis Bacon
• Project Manager of the Year – Sarah Coleman
• The Commander's Leadership Award - Jason Polk
• The Commander’s Diversity Leadership Award – Suzanne Murdock
• The Commander’s Diversity Award – Jeffrey Davis
• Resource Management Employee of the Year – Jennifer Peete
• Engineer of the Year – Kim Meacham
• Employee of the Year – Wesley Malone
• Teamwork Award – Power Purchase Agreement Multiple Award Task Order Contract PDT
John Matthews, former deputy for Programs and Technical Management, was inducted into the Gallery of Distinguished Civilian Employees for the work he accomplished during his 33-year career with the Huntsville Center. Before becoming the DPTM, John served as program or project manager for more than 15 of the Center’s current product lines from February 1977 to June 2000. He is noted for his program management skills related to being the director of Ballistic Missile Defense for Huntsville Center and the worldwide deputy for Missile Defense for USACE and Missile Defense Life Cycle Program Manager for USACE. John retired in 2010 and is still serving the engineer community as the president of the Huntsville Post, American Society of Military Engineers.
Employees are encouraged to submit nominations for awards in each category. Nominations received are reviewed and ranked by the Center’s Incentive Awards Committee, and a winner is selected.
“This is a great opportunity to recognize individuals for the hard work they do every day on behalf of the Center, the Corps of Engineers and the United States,” said Col. Robert Ruch, Huntsville Center commander. “While we are an Army organization, we do work for many government agencies. We could not be successful in our mission areas without employees like these employees who are receiving the Engineer Day awards. My thanks to each of you.”
Individuals received a trophy, and the 39 members of the PPA MATOC PDT received a medallion. PDT members are Valerie Shippers, Paul Robinson, Lawrence M. Norton, Sharon D. Gresham, Bernard Givan, John Mayes, Sharon Butler, Lydia Tadesse, Tonju Butler, Sarah Schlapman, Michael Ashworth, Margaret Simmons, Kay Sommerkamp, Earl Johnson, Geordelle Charles, Melanie Braddock, Jimmy Haywood, Bruce Forsberg, Jeff Denton, Kim Meacham, Michael Kempner-Strehlow, Chris Sheperd, Billie Crockett, Lenneia Jennings, Rebecca Vucinaj, Raven Nall, Arkie Fanning, Joe Pentecost, Preston Kiss, Debra Valine, Dan Tobin, John Lushetsky, Erich Kurre, Craig Northridge, Mark Smith, Todd Crawford, Stephanie Clark Rice, Rick Armstrong and Erich Brown.