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Press Release | March 6, 2012

U.S. Central Command announces Annual Award Winners for 2011

By , U.S. Central Command

MacDill AFB, Fla. (March 5, 2012) — U.S. Central Command headquarters recognized the outstanding accomplishments of the command’s service members and civilians of the year March 5.

Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Karl R. Horst and Command Sgt. Maj. Frank A. Grippe presided over the ceremony on behalf of the USCENTCOM Commander, Gen. James Mattis, who was traveling and could not attend.

The awards were presented to individuals from each branch of the service, government civilians, and the overall senior and junior service members from the command for their service during the calendar year 2011.

Command Sgt. Maj. Grippe explained to the packed auditorium that the competition was fierce in all the categories.

For the service nominees, the experience was unlike many other staff selection boards.  In addition to the normal service board process, which he described as “grueling,” military members were also subject to a fitness test, an assessment of first-aid and buddy-care skills, and even weapons qualification.

Civilian competition was also rigorous, with nominations taken from every directorate within the command, and a high-ranking selection board headed personally by Maj. Gen. Horst.

The two overall USCENTCOM senior and junior honorees were selected from the top honorees from the command’s quarterly award winners from throughout the year.  Or, as Command Sgt. Maj. Grippe described them, the “best of the best.”

The command’s top enlisted leader noted that all of the nominees “have given a great deal of themselves to their communities and this organization.”

Maj. Gen. Horst also said the display of talent was exceptional. “The work that these men and women did to support U.S. Central Command was truly remarkable.  We are only successful at the combatant-command level because of the dedication of the people who serve here.  Their performance was truly outstanding.”


The 2011 USCENTCOM Annual Award winners were:

CENTCOM SOY 2011

2-2-2

CENTCOM Senior SMOY: Staff Sgt. Crystal Walker (USMC) – Communications Directorate

CENTCOM Junior SMOY: Spc. Zabre Z. Nicholas (USA) – Directorate of Operations

CENTCOM Civilian of the Year: CAT I (GS 1-10) Mr. Walter J. Adamcyzk, Jr. – Headquarters Commandant
CENTCOM Civilian of the Year: CAT II (GS 11-13)
Mr. Stephen M. Governale – Protocol Office
U.S. Army NCO: Sgt. Felix A. Jimenez – USCENTCOM

U.S. Army Junior Soldier: Spc. Zabre Z. Nicholas – Directorate of Operations

U.S. Marine Corps Senior Marine: Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey A. Dothard – Personnel Directorate

U.S. Marine Corps Junior Marine: Sgt. Lucas A. Leal – USCENTCOM

U.S. Navy Senior Sailor: Petty Officer 1st Class (IS1) Claude C. Foy, IV – USCENTCOM

U.S. Navy Junior Sailor: Petty Officer 2nd Class (MC2) Patrick W. Mullen III – USCENTCOM

U.S. Air Force Outstanding Airman: Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Fischer – USCENTCOM