WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Eight civilian employees and one team of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Walla Walla District earned recognition for superior performance during an annual-award ceremony on Friday, June 29, at the District Headquarters in Walla Walla, Washington.
Aaron Schuff, a project engineer and contracting officer representative for the District’s Construction Branch, received the Engineering Excellence Award. Schuff earned Engineer of the Year honors primarily for his work on the Ice Harbor Lock and Dam Turbine Runner Replacement Installation project.
Julio Morelos, an electrical engineer in the district’s Electrical Design Section, received the Public Outreach & Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education program award for coordinating National Engineers Week activities within the district and at many Walla Walla-area schools. Morelos also volunteered as a public speaker at other schools and colleges throughout the District, cultivating young people’s interest in STEM careers.
Joe Braley, an electrical engineer in the District’s Electrical Design Section, received the Quality Proponent award, primarily for his work on the Dworshak exciters upgrade, three low-voltage and dc switchgear upgrades on the Lower Snake Projects, and the Lower Granite digital governor upgrade.
The McNary Turbine Replacement project delivery team received the Project Management Business Process award for complex scheduling, multiple-agency collaboration and overall PMBP utilization.
Support Employee of the Year awards in two categories were presented to employees with more than 5 years of federal service who provided exemplary service, exceptional devotion to duty, and significant, broad-scope contribution of to the efficient and economical operation of the District.
-- Patty Ramos, an administrative support team member for the District’s Programs and Project Management Branch, earned honors in the pay-grade 9 and under category for her exceptional support, particularly the development of a standard operating procedure for printing services, now used by the entire District.
-- Andrew Dankel Ibáñez, the District’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program chief, was recognized in the pay-grade 10 and higher category for providing technical and professional EEO support to management officials and employees throughout the District.
Outstanding Achievement awards were presented in three categories to employees with more than 5 years of federal service who made a contribution in a career field other than engineering that resulted in material improvement in service, substantial financial or manpower savings, or in significant social or technological improvements or progress:
-- Sonya Kurle, a contract performance specialist at the Lower Granite Natural Resources Management Office, was honored in the pay-grade 9 and under category for, most notably, for her innovative acquisitions strategies to support the natural resource mission in the Walla Walla District;
-- Matthew Reeves, a project engineer and contracting officer representative for the District’s Construction Branch, was recognized in the pay-grade 10 and higher category, for his work on the Dworshak Dam Hydroelectric Generator Unit-3 Winding Replacement project.
Leigh Cranmer, a technical writer-editor for the District’s Mission Support Office, was honored as the New Employee of the Year, primarily for her work revising and improving the District’s New Employee Handbook, a product sought out by other districts to model.
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Release no. 18-069