News

NATICK, Mass. – Sometimes it can be difficult to stand out in an organization dedicated to excellence. Nevertheless, during the Annual Awards ceremony at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, or DEVCOM SC, some highly esteemed employees managed to do just that.

“The Larry Strickland Leadership Award and Scholarship commemorate the service of Sergeant Major Larry Strickland. Strickland, who served in the Army for 30 years, was the Sergeant Major to the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff when he became a victim of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.”What we will recognize today are examples of excellence by some outstanding performers who come from a amass of outstanding performers,” said Craig Rettie, director of Research and Technology Integration at DEVCOM SC, who presided over the event.

DEVCOM SC’s G-1 Human Resources conceptualized and organized the event, with help from the Chief Data Office. The selection process was rigorous, and the competition was steep. The atmosphere, which included a red carpet and velvet ropes, set the stage for anticipation.

Winners felt honored and humbled to be recognized for their work in an organization dedicated to ensuring the nation’s warfighters are protected, optimized and lethal.

Yoojeong Kim, Ph.D. — the lead for the Innovation and Outreach Team, part of G-3/5 Operations and Plans, in the Office of the Deputy Director — won the Outstanding Team Lead at the Annual Awards. She feels grateful for the Soldier Center’s leadership and committed workforce.

“I am truly honored to have been selected for the Outstanding Lead, Manager, or Supervisor category,” said Kim. “I think it is a reflection of the collective efforts by the team, and I am very fortunate to work with very competent and dedicated team members. Furthermore, I am grateful for the guidance and support provided by my direct supervisor, Rich Hornstein (G-3/5 Operations and Plans), and SC leadership.”

Joanne Mahoney, a budget analyst in G-8 Financial Management in the Office of the Deputy Director, won for Administrative Excellence. She feels thankful for her dedicated and helpful coworkers.

“I am deeply honored to receive this award, and I owe it all to the incredible support and collaboration of my coworkers,” said Mahoney.

Douglas Tamilio, director of DEVCOM SC, summed up the spirit of the awards.

“The Army’s commitment to prioritizing people guides everything we do,” said Tamilio. “We strive to attract, maintain and recognize our top-notch workforce, who in turn, use their talents to best serve the warfighter.”

Here are all the esteemed winners of the DEVCOM SC annual awards:

Science & Technology – Individual

Gary Walsh of Soldier Protection Directorate, or SPD, won the Gold. Randall Spain of the Soldier Effectiveness Directorate, or SED, won the Silver, and SED’s Joshua Buller won the Bronze.

Science & Technology – Team

SED’s Medical Live Integration Team won the Science & Technology – Team category. Team members include Sophia Caffery, Matthew Hackett, Mark Mazzeo, Jack Norfleet and Conner Parsey.

Outstanding Project/Program Support

SED’s Travis Hillyer won the Outstanding Project/Program Support Category.

Development & Engineering – Individual

SED’s Mark Mazzeo won the Gold. SPD’s Jacqueline Sewell won the Silver, and SSD’s Josue Diaz won the Bronze.

Development & Engineering – Team

Close Combat Assault Ration Transition Team of the Soldier Sustainment Directorate, or SSD, won the Development & Engineering Team category. Team members include Jill Bates, Julie Edwards, Sharon Lesher and Meg Walker.

Project Officer of the Year

SPD’s Molly Richards was named Project Officer of the Year.

Outstanding Technician

SSD’s Brian Grady won Outstanding Technician.

Customer Focus (Individual Technical)

PM-SOF’s Nicholas Tsantinis won Customer Focus (Individual Technical).

Customer Focus (Team) Technical

SED’s Anthropometry Survey Advisor Team won the Customer Focus (Team) Technical category. Team members include Robin Carufel, Hyegjoo Choi-Rokas, Todd Garlie, Peng Li and Joseph Parham.

Outstanding Innovation Effort – Individual

SED’s Benjamin Goldberg won the Outstanding Innovation Effort – Individual category.

Outstanding Innovation Effort – Team

SED’s Measuring and Advancing Soldier Tactical Readiness and Effectiveness (MASTR-E) Integrated Analysis IPT. Team members include Thaddeus “Tad” Brunye, Julie Cantelon, Seth Elkin-Frankston, Wade Elmore, Grace Giles, Clifford “Lee” Hancock, Kari McKenzie, Meghan O’Donovan and Kenneth Racicot.

Administrative Excellence

Joanne Mahoney of the DD/CoS/G-8 won the DEVCOM SC Annual Award for Administrative Excellence.

Outstanding Support

Kristin Arena of the DD/CoS/G-8 and SED’s Diane Kokoszka won for Outstanding Support.

Customer Focus (Individual) Business

SED’s Jennifer Rourke was chosen as the winner for the Customer Focus (Individual) Business category.

Customer Focus (Team) Business

PM-SOF’s Program Manager – Protection & Integration (PM-PI) Team won the Customer Focus (Team) Business. Team members include Robert Fleming, Michael McNally and Keith Faubert.

Outstanding Lead, Manager or Supervisor

Yoojeong Kim, Ph.D., of the DD/CoS/G-3/5 won the Outstanding Lead, Manager or Supervisor category.

Outstanding Recent Graduate or Student

SED’s Sophia Caffery won for Outstanding Recent Graduate or Student.

Employee of the Year

SSD’s Benjamin Williams won Employee of the Year.

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About DEVCOM Soldier Center: The DEVCOM Soldier Center is committed to discovering, developing, and advancing science and technology solutions that ensure America’s warfighters are optimized, protected, and lethal. DEVCOM Soldier Center supports all of the Army’s Modernization efforts, with the Soldier Lethality and Synthetic Training Environment Cross Functional Teams being the DEVCOM Soldier Center’s chief areas of focus. The center’s science and engineering expertise are combined with collaborations with industry, DOD, and academia to advance Soldier and squad performance. The center supports the Army as it transforms from being adaptive to driving innovation to support a Multi-Domain Operations Capable Force of 2028 and a MDO Ready Force of 2035. DEVCOM Soldier Center is constantly working to strengthen Soldiers’ performance to increase readiness and support for warfighters who are organized, trained, and equipped for prompt and sustainable ground combat.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) outreach and mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers are also an important part of the mission of DEVCOM Soldier Center. The mentoring of students by Army scientists and engineers benefits the students and their communities. It also increases young people’s awareness of potential Army job opportunities and helps provide the Army with potential new talent, helping to fuel innovative ideas that benefit the nation’s warfighters and the nation as a whole.

DEVCOM Soldier Center is part of DEVCOM. Through collaboration across the command’s core technical competencies, DEVCOM leads in the discovery, development and delivery of the technology-based capabilities required to make Soldiers more lethal to win our nation’s wars and come home safely. DEVCOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Futures Command.

By Jane Benson, DEVCOM Soldier Center Public Affairs