David L. Norquist, the Defense Department's comptroller and chief financial officer, and Sajeel S. Ahmed, acting director of administration and organizational policy, presented the Spirit of Service awards during a May 9 ceremony at the Pentagon.
DOD uniformed and civilian personnel often work long hours at sometimes arduous tasks that directly contribute in various ways to national security in the forms of increased lethality, readiness and reform.
"It is remarkable that in addition to devoting your careers to public service, you've found the time, energy and passion to serve in your personal time as well," Norquist said. He also thanked the families of the awardees for their support.
Norquist and Ahmed recognized 32 of these individuals from DOD and all branches of the military who made positive contributions to their communities and exemplified DOD professionalism and selfless service. Their collective volunteerism service consisted of:
- Working as emergency medical technicians.
- Helping at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
- Collecting food, clothing and other supplies for the unsheltered homeless.
- Providing children in need with school uniforms, winter coats and backpacks filled with school supplies.
- Serving food to parents and children undergoing treatment at the Ronald McDonald House.
- Volunteering to help the disabled.
- Improving the Army's retirement services.
- Bolstering the Marine Corps community against natural and man-made disasters.
- Volunteering for a food bank.
- Helping reduce response times for grants to states and local governments.
- Bringing churches back from the brink of insolvency.
- Ensuring that children and families in need received healthy food.
- Conducting environmental health work.
- Helping recent homeless veterans furnish their new homes.
- Serving as foster parents.
- Volunteering at prisons and organizing toy drives for inmates' children.
DOD:
Miriam Alonso, Consondra Christopher-Davis, Kaitlyn S. Cullen, Catherine Dunlap, Nia A. Hope, Kevin M. Mueller, Mary Scavilla, Cynthia Swift
Army:
Luffon B. Berry, Roger D. Combs, George H. Cushman IV, Larry A. Gilchrist, Angela D. Johnston, Mark E. Overberg, Maanvi M. Patoir, Branden D. Turner
Navy:
Linda Dent-Mitchell, Michael N. Meyers, Ilka C. Regino
Air Force:
Miranda S. Brannon, Jamie D. Brown, John S. Felt, Mercedes P. Greene, Jimmy E. Jones, Jong H. Lee, Thomas M. Mahoney, Herbert A. Vollmar Jr.
Marine Corps:
Mark A. Brown, LaVonda Lessane, Jonathan Newell, Arlyn Penaranda, Andrew T. Ryan