TSA Ohio Field Office recognizes dozens of heroic Ohioans at Patriot Award Ceremony

COLUMBUS -- The Transportation Security Administration’s Ohio Field Office recognized more than 30 people at its annual TSA Ohio Patriot Award Ceremony, held Friday, Sept. 9 at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Training Academy in Columbus.

Ohio Federal Security Director Don Barker honored TSA employees, military veterans, and others representing law enforcement agencies from across the state. The awards are intended to recognize those who have committed their lives to service and public good, as well as families with histories of military and law enforcement service that span generations.

Robert Clark, Director of Public Safety for the City of Columbus, delivered the keynote address.

This is the second year the Ohio TSA Office has given its Patriot Awards in this format, choosing to hold the ceremony around the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, which spurred the creation of the agency.

“There is no better time to reflect on the legacy of service that runs through so many in Ohio, and we all benefit from that,” Ohio TSA Federal Security Director Don Barker said. “The individuals we were able to honor at Friday’s event have committed their lives to keeping us safe and bettering their communities, and we hope these awards highlight our appreciation.”

The full list of award recipients:

• Paul Pride, Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent (Retired)TSA Ohio Federal Security Director Don Barker Daniel Springs, Ohio State Highway Patrol
• Bryan Thompson, detective, The Ohio State University Police Department
• Heather Frient, Privacy and Compliance Officer, Ohio Department of Public Safety
• Thomas J. Stickrath, Director, Ohio Department of Public Safety
• Marla Gaskill, Ohio State Highway Patrol (Retired)
• Lydia Frey, Captain of Communications, Marion County Sheriff’s Office
• Richard Fambro, Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent (Retired)
• Michael Gore, Chief Deputy, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office
• Shirley Green, Toledo Public Safety Director (Retired)
• Richard D. Ellsworth Ohio State Highway Patrol (Deceased)
• Kurt Douglass, Special Agent,TSA Office of Investigations (Retired)
• Haraz Ghanbari. Commander US Naval Reserves and Ohio House of Representative, 3rd District
• Vivian Hutson, Senior Advisor for Pacific Strategy, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• LaShauna Treadwell, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, TSA
• Kyle Bussey. Lead Transportation Security Inspector, Cargo, TSA
• Bradley Varney, Ohio nonprofit leader (Gallipolis)
• Warren Motts, Founder and Director of Mott’s Military Museum
• Ronald Clark. Deputy Chief, Hilliard Police Department
• Richard Harding, Bomb Squad K-9 Unit, City of Columbus Division of Fire
• Jamie Patton, Sheriff of Union County
• Fredrick Stevens, Sheriff of Seneca County
• Rickard Cooper, Inspector, Cleveland Clinic Police Department
• Mark Denner, Commander, Columbus Police Department
• Anthony Kolesar, Training Academy Commander, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
• John Howard, Major, Ohio Army National Guard
• Les R. Case, Federal Air Marshall, Monclova Township Fire Department Captain
• Robert Schneider, Jackson Township Fire Department
• Brian Taylor. Battalion Chief, City of Riverside Fire Department
• Dustin Epperson, Lead Transportation Security Specialist, Explosives, TSA
• Nicole French, Transportation Security Officer, TSA
• Todd Coykendall, Lead Transportation Security Officer, TSA
• Law Enforcement Generational Award
  • Larry Grossnickle, Dayton Police Department
  • Kyle Thomas, Dayton Police Department
  • Brett Thomas, Cincinnati Police Department
• Military Legacy Award (Mansfield)
  • Henry Phillips
  • Krystal White
  • Seth Walters
  • Max Walters