DAHLGREN, Va. (Sept. 30, 2013)—Rear Adm. Lawrence Creevy, Naval Surface Warfare Center Commander, joined Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) Commander Capt. Michael Smith and NSWCDD Acting Technical Director Stuart Koch to honor 13 recipients of the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) at a ceremony held at Dahlgren Sept. 25.
The Secretary of Defense GWOT Medal was presented to the awardees - all NSWC Dahlgren employees - to recognize and honor their contributions and accomplishments in direct support of the armed forces engaged in operations to combat terrorism.
"Without our civilian Sailors, we would have no Navy systems or ships," said Creevy, linking the dedication of the Dahlgren GWOT award recipients to civilians working in the Navy Yard.
Creevy, Smith and Koch joined the awardees and all in attendance for a moment of silence to reflect and honor the victims of shootings at the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters. The admiral recounted the acts of bravery amid the chaos, stressing the importance of each individual employed by Navy.
"Today's honorees understand the importance of involving warfighters and obtaining their operational perspective, and were willing to step out of the safe labs into harm's way," said Smith. "All of us at NSWC Dahlgren Division are particularly proud of our Global War on Terrorism Award recipients, who by their example inspire us all. Their dedication reminds us that what we do makes a difference on a daily basis to the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States military."
The medal - the civilian equivalent of the GWOT Expeditionary Medal - was created to recognize and honor the contributions and accomplishments of the Defense Department's civilian workforce in direct support of members of the armed forces engaged in operations to combat terrorism.
The awardees' direct support to U.S. warfighters in theater included deployments to dangerous locations where they joined troops to field weapons, solved security challenges, and performed troubleshooting in real-time scenarios.
Individual employees receiving the Secretary of Defense GWOT Medal were John Aanerud, Terry Banks, John Larzelere, Roscoe Smith, Debra White and Jeffrey Yeagle.
The Joint Program Office-Mine Resistant Ambush Protected team members honored at the event received their medals in theater: Curtis Dunn, Mark Culbertson, Paul O'Campo, Daniel Carlyle, Robert Fitzgerald, Larry Ground and Elisa Szuwalski.
"I greatly appreciate your patience and understanding when long hours and extended travel were necessary to get the job done," said Smith as he thanked awardees' family members.