U.S. Navy photos by Matthew Poynor
The Roger M. Smith Team Award went to the Cluster Surge Team. Front Row (l. to r.) Capt. Andy Buduo, Gary Prybyla, Michael Oetjen, Thomas Johnson, Heather Rollins, Marlene Labanowski, Gregory Ballinger, Dennis McLaughlin. Back Row (l. to r.) Eric Meyer, Raymond Geckle, Thomas Gunderson, Ricky Johnson, Robert Daily, John Freeman. Not Pictured; Lisa Aliff, Timothy Appleby, Gilbert Bivins, Cynthia Butler, Lois Marshall, Franklin Martin, Paul Miller, Diane Newton, Gregory Swann, Frank Tse.
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) recognized more than 55 of its employees on April 10 at its annual Honorary Awards ceremony held at the Town of Indian Head's Village Green Pavilion.
NSWC IHD employees received individual and team awards for their contributions in 2011, covering areas such as energetics research and development, managerial excellence, safety, community service and exceptional personal performance.
Four of those awards were NSWC IHD's highest command-level honors. Other employees received individual and team awards from the Naval Surface Warfare Center headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Two employees also received Meritorious Civilian Service Awards, one for management of the Base Realignment and Closure process started in 2005, the other for successful implementation of the Navy's Enterprise Resource Planning system.
NSWC IHD's commanding officer, Capt. Andy Buduo, said that the award winners' significant work represents the high work standards throughout the command.
"Day in and day out, Indian Head Division employees exhibit exceptional dedication and commitment, whether conducting advanced research, manufacturing rocket motors or warheads, managing programs, reviewing contracts or keeping the books," said Buduo.
"This doesn't happen by accident. It comes from adherence to high standards and an attitude of paying attention to what's important."
Dennis McLaughlin, NSWC IHD's technical director, said the command's adherence to quality and customer service has paid dividends in an austere fiscal environment.
"Financially, our outlook is very good, as rosy as it's been in several years," McLaughlin said. "We have had some real growth this past year, and the plant is almost operating at full capacity. That is remarkable considering the downturn in defense spending, yet really reinforces our value to the Navy and DoD."
Team Awards
Roger M. Smith Team Award - Lisa Aliff, Timothy Appleby, Gregory Ballinger, Gilbert Bivins, Cynthia Butler, Robert Daily, John Freeman, Raymond Geckle, Thomas Gunderson, Michael Harley, Ricky Johnson, Thomas Johnson, Marlene Labanowski, Lois Marshall, Franklin Martin, Eric Meyer, Paul Miller, Dianne Newton, Michael Oetjen, Gary Prybyla, Heather Rollins, Gregory Swann and Frank Tse from the Applied Technology Department, Product Assurance Division.
Adm. Harold R. Stark Award for Innovation - Mark Cavolowsky, Steven Dunham, Kevin Gibson, Steven Kim, John LaSala, and Colin Roberts from the Innocuous Explosive Items (IEI) team.
Continuous Process Improvement Award - William Blake, Rhonda Frey, Anthony Knott, Debra Knott, Jonathon Lawrence, Michael McDonnell, Robert Raines and Daniel Sorensen from the Navy Gun Propellant Safety (NGPS) Team.
Command Award for Safety Excellence - Kevin Gibson, Christopher Knott, John LaSala, John O'Connor, David Pickeral and Jonathan Rogerson from the Energetics Evaluation Division.
Individual Awards
Meritorious Civilian Service Awards - John Hungerford from the Systems Engineering Department and Marci Mouer, Navy Enterprise Resource Program Site Implementation Lead.
Project Manager of the Year - Conan Schultz from the Energetic Systems Division.
Dr. Horst Adolph Award for Outstanding Patent - Harry Archer from the CAD/PAD Division.
A. J. Perk Outstanding Operator/Technician of the Year - Gerald Ellis from the Energetic Component Technology Division.
Admiral Harold R. Stark Award for Innovation - Wayne Ouellette from the Research and Technology Division.
Internal Customer Service Award - Daniel Butler from the Comptroller Office.
Command Award for Safety Excellence - Tinya Coles-Cieply from the Energetic Systems Division.
Captain H. E. Lackey Award for Community Service - Rebecca Wilson from the Energetics Evaluation Division.
Student of the Year Award - Christopher Knott from the Energetics Evaluation Division.
Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Award - Thomas Kidwell from the Energetic Systems Division.
Robert B. Dashiell Award for Excellence - Michael Scott Wilmoth from the Customer Advocate Office.
Joe L. Browning Award for Managerial Excellence - James Griffenhagen from the Cast Products Technology Division.
Dr. George W. Patterson Awards for Outstanding Accomplishment - Matthew Sanford from the Energetic Component Technology Division, and Chad Stoltz from the Research and Technology Division.
Warfare Center Awards
NAVSEA Warfare Center Collaboration Award (Individual) - Kevin Gessner from the Customer Advocate Office
NAVSEA Warfare Center Collaboration Award (Team) - David C. Christian, Richard J. Low, Jr. and Dr. John H. Wilkinson III, Navy Counter Improvised Explosive Devise Knowledge Network Team.
As the largest Department of Defense full-spectrum energetics facility, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division is one of 10 Naval Sea Systems Command Warfare Center Divisions. Indian Head's mission is to research, develop, test, evaluate and produce energetics and energetic systems for fighting forces around the globe.
