Defense Department recognizes top civilian employees

Eight civilian employees of the Department of Defense (DoD) recently earned honors for their outstanding service, allegiance and expertise.

The eight were honored at the 62nd annual Distinguished Civilian Service Awards at the Pentagon.

Seven of the staffers were acknowledged with Distinguished Civilian Service Awards, while Hallie Balkin of the Naval Supply Systems Command, Fleet Logistics Command received the prestigious David O. Cooke Excellence in Public Administration Award. The Cooke Award was named for “Doc” Cooke, the DoD’s highest-ranking career civilian. 

Presenting the keynote speech at the occasion was Anthony Kurta, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

“While each recipient has made individual and unique contributions to the Department of Defense throughout their careers, they all share a common dedication to public service, which we are here today to recognize amongst colleagues, friends and family,” Kurta said.

The seven civilians presented with service awards included: Robert Charles, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command; Sheri Ferguson, Evans Army Community Hospital; John Hayter II, Naval Air Systems Command; Mitchel Miller, Integration and Weapon System Cyber Resiliency; Kristina Harrington, National Reconnaissance Office, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence; Richard Ritter, Missile Defense Agency, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; and Paul Vosti, Asian and Pacific Affairs, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy.

Kurta commended all winners on their “extraordinary commitment to public service and demonstration of an inspiring degree of personal and professional ethics,” emphasizing their individual contributions to their respective department commands.