While most federal and military personnel were safe at home after the Office of Personnel Management granted a day off due to the hazardous road conditions, a group of NSAW leaders, staff members, police officers, Master-at-Arms, firefighters, emergency management communications dispatchers, public works and contracted personnel worked around the clock helping to keep all NSAW installations safe, secure and operationally ready.

For the behind the scenes work performed, Capt. John Sears, Commanding Officer of NSAW presented NSAW Public Works Department Engineering Technician Doug Greene with an On-the-Spot award at an informal ceremony held at the Washington Navy Yard and attended by a group of his co-workers.

‘‘Sometimes we take for granted the hard work, dedication and behind the scenes work that these folks do, day in and day out, regardless of the weather,” Sears said. ‘‘We all benefit from their untiring efforts, but don’t often get the opportunity to tell them how much we appreciate them. I am pausing now and taking the opportunity to express thanks to them.”

Lt. Peter Benson, an NSAW Assistant Public Works Officer, said, ‘‘Greene worked around the clock to ensure access to the critical facilities at the Washington Navy Yard was continuously maintained. For four straight days, he coordinated the contractor’s efforts to remove the snow and ice from the streets, sidewalks, and parking areas. His efforts ensured that the Flag Officer housing areas, as well as base functions over the weekend were not impacted.”

Speaking to Greene in front of the gathered crowd, Sears said, ‘‘I received many compliments back through the chain of command about how well the NSAW installations were maintained during the storm. It is personal pride and effort like this; and the understanding in what you are trying to achieve that make such success possible.”

‘‘Doug was continually engaged, ensuring the safety of both military and civilian personnel and property throughout the storm and subsequent snow removal operations. He not only excelled in his duties, but he also fulfilled the government’s role for quality assurance,” NSAW Public Works Officer Cmdr. Stephen Revelas, said.

In concluding his remarks, Sears said, ‘‘Thanks to Doug Greene, both the Washington Navy Yard and Naval Support Facility Anacostia remained open for normal operations even though the federal government had closed. In recognition of his superlative efforts and devotion to duty, I am pleased to present this award.”

The December winter storm brought a record snowfall amount during Dec. 18 and 19. At Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the snow reached 16.4 inches, beating the 1962 record of 6.2 inches. At Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport, 21 inches of snow fell, burying the 20.4 inch record established in December 1966.

In the District of Columbia, the winter storm’s snow amounts were among the highest since official records began being kept by the National Weather Service in the 1800s. Only the 28 inches of snow recorded in Jan. 1922 and the 20 inches recorded on Feb. 13 and 14, 1899 came close.

This past Saturday, Greene, his co-workers and other essential personnel were again faced with a significant snowfall.

“At the peak of Saturday's snow storm, we had 10 people working on sidewalks, three snow plows and spreaders and two bobcat tractors working at the Navy Yard,” Green said. ‘‘At Anacostia, we had five people for the sidewalks and three other snow plows and spreaders. When the work was completed at the Navy Yard, all assets went to Anacostia to finish up.“

The process was repeated again on Tuesday into Wednesday morning, with 3 to 4 inches of snow in the District. Presently, crews are preparing for another storm this weekend, predicted to begin tomorrow and into the weekend with a significant amount of snow on the ground.

Well before the first person comes through an entrance gate on Monday, NSAW roadways and sidewalks will be free of dangerous snow and ice, said Mike Beyrle, NSAW assistant base operations officer. “I have confidence in our Public Works Department and its contractor,“ he said.