Length of service awards representing a combined 400 years of service and honorary awards were handed out at the Garrison’s third quarter fiscal 2024 awards ceremony.
“Thank you for continuing to do what you do,” Garrison Commander Col. Brian Cozine said at the program June 27
in Bob Jones Auditorium. “This is all about recognizing your peers, recognizing your accomplishments which you do every day.”
Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Dylan Lemasters said Team Redstone is “literally crushing it everywhere across the board. It’s been awesome to see you guys performing beyond expectations.
“I cannot say thank you enough.”
Colton Caler and Cornelius Johnson were recognized for their exceptional heroic actions while serving as security guards, receiving Meritorious Service Commendation Medals.
They responded to a one-car accident Dec. 11, 2023, at Gate 1, ensuring that the unconscious driver was safely removed from the vehicle and given immediate first aid until medical personnel arrived on the scene.
Joseph Szmutko received a Certificate of Achievement for exceptional achievement while serving as a security guard during the same incident. He secured the gate after the vehicle struck a guard rail, allowing other guards to render assistance without impacting security or gate traffic.
Other Certificates of Achievement were presented to:
·Justin Barber for exceptional achievement while serving as a supervisory firefighter. During this period, he responded as an incident commander to 351 calls for emergency services. He served as the manager of the Fire Department training program, ensuring 24,000 total department training hours for 40 employees were scheduled, tracked and completed. He also managed the Garrison CPR program.
·Therinzo Catchings and Willie Sims for exceptional achievement while serving as security guards. On March 17, 2023, while assigned to Gate 10, they helped save the life of a colleague. Their attention to detail, compassion and concern enabled them to assess an emergency and notify chain of command, which resulted in the colleague receiving emergency medical aid and being transported to the hospital.
·Dario Lykes for exception achievement while serving as a security guard. On May 4, while assigned at Gate 8, Lykes helped a mentally disturbed individual through adversity while de-escalating the situation and keeping the individual calm until police arrived.
·Young Rivera (Reumann) and Carla Tomanovich for exceptional achievement while serving as recreation specialists for the sports and fitness center. Their outstanding customer service created a positive experience for all patrons.
Civilian Service Achievement Medals were awarded in person to:
·Ed Adams for exceptional dedication and outstanding commitment while serving as a transition assistance manager and acting operations division chief for the Directorate of Human Resources. He assumed the duties to execute the newly established operations division while managing the transition services program for Redstone.
·Bryan Copeland for exceptional dedication and outstanding commitment while serving as the community readiness and resiliency integrator. He assumed the duties to execute the first installation retirement ceremony on Redstone.
·Ashtyn Gibson for exceptional service and performance of duty during the period from December 2023 to January 2024, while assigned as a police officer K9 handler. She deployed last minute on an overseas Secret Service mission in support of the U.S. president and assisted in the protection and the potential interdiction of illegal firearms and explosives with her assigned military working dog.
·Janet Harvey for her exceptional dedication and outstanding commitment while serving as organizational resources specialist with DHR from Nov. 1, 2023 to Jan. 31, 2024. She assumed the duties to execute the first installation hiring fair conducted on Redstone, which hosted more than 1,000 participants.
·Jose Rosario for his exceptional dedication and outstanding commitment while serving as the retirement services specialist and acting operation division specialist with DHR. He assumed the duties to assist in executing the newly established DHR operations division.
·Krystal Scott for exceptional dedication and outstanding commitment while serving as workforce development program specialist. She assumed the duties of assisting in executing the annual performance review board for the Garrison, servicing 350 employees.
Other achievement medal recipients were Kendra Brown, William Cline and James Wesser.
Personnel who received Civilian Service Commendation Medals were:
·Daniel Lehman for exceptional achievement while serving as a supervisory firefighter. During this period, Lehman responded as the incident commander to 399 calls for emergency services. As a supervisor of fire and emergency services, he executed $90,000 in funding and managed all major fire apparatus repairs, maintenance and replacements.
·Kara Malone for outstanding performance of duty during the Stalwart Award period, as supervisory management and program analyst with the Directorate of Public Works. She was selected as an ID-Sustainment Stalwart.
·Michael West for exceptional achievement while serving as a supervisory firefighter. During this period, he responded as the incident commander to 240 calls for emergency service. He revamped multiple standard operating procedures to reduce risk to responders and increase quality of the service provided to the workforce.
·Mark Hardiman was officially commended for exceptional achievement while serving as an IT specialist in the Directorate for Public Works and as the Garrison’s information management officer.
Twenty-two Length of Service Awards were presented:
·40 years – Antonio Acklin and Aldin Mitchell
·35 years – Brett Atwell and Karen Peterson
·30 years – Kenneth Smith
·25 years – Dathan Black and Michael West
·15 years –Aleah Bridges, Steven Courter, Wanda Gilbert, Kara Malone, Justin Pflueger, Brian Raney, Misty Taylor, Timothy West and Austin York
·10 years – Wesley Hawley
·Five years – Jordan Butler, Katherine Hirth, Scotty Long, Bailey Plaster and Ronny Simmons
The event was presented by the Directorate of Human Resources on behalf of the Garrison commander, and Krystal Scott was the mistress of ceremony.
