ATLANTA – On March 28, 2023, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security John K. Tien hosted an awards ceremony at the Department of Aviation Technical Campus located at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to celebrate the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) workforce, including individuals who served since the Department’s inception 20 years ago. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Administrator Stacey Fitzmaurice officiated the ceremony, where 65 employees received a Secretary’s Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the mission.
“Our workforce built the Department of Homeland Security over the last twenty years and their achievements deserve to be applauded,” said Deputy Secretary John Tien. “Twenty years ago this Department was born of both tragedy and necessity. In that necessity we have evolved and grown, and have attracted and retained the very best that America has to offer to execute our Department’s mission. We save victims of crime and hold perpetrators accountable; we promote lawful trade and travel; we advance U.S. interests from the Arctic to the Indo-Pacific; we secure our borders and seize contraband designed to inflict harm; we deliver heroic relief when disaster strikes and when people are at their most vulnerable; we advance the security of cyberspace; and affirm our country stature as a beacon of hope. We developed these extraordinary capabilities in such a short amount of time all because of our workforce.”
The DHS Secretary’s Awards are an annual program that recognizes the extraordinary individual and collective achievements of the workforce. This year’s award recipients improved the efficiency of processing noncitizens at the Southwest Border, deployed across the country to respond to natural disasters, investigated cybercrime, created a new streamlined process for adjudicating asylum applications, safely and securely resettled nearly 90,000 evacuated Afghans in the United States, provided resources for organizations to enhance their cybersecurity resilience, established a process for Ukrainian nationals seeking refuge, secured the 2022 midterm elections, and demonstrated heroism by acting quickly and courageously to save lives in harrowing circumstances.
This year, DHS is holding eight ceremonies across the country, honoring over 1,300 employees. Earlier this year, Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas unveiled 12 priorities for the Department, including a commitment to champion the workforce and transform the employee experience. Building off that commitment, the ceremonies will also recognize the over 32,000 “plank holders” who joined DHS at its inception and continue to serve in the Department.
TSA Atlanta has 334 plank holders, including Federal Security Director Robert Spinden, 22 that were invited to the ceremony. Three DHS plank holders from TSA, Stephen Echols, Kris Morris and Sherri Stevens-Mack, shared reflections on their last twenty years of service and the future of the Department during a fireside chat.
During the ceremony, Tim Knox, a Transportation Security Inspector at Jacksonville International Airport was one of two recipients of the Secretary’s Award for Valor. On October 2, 2021, Knox witnessed a tractor trailer careen off the road, crash into a wooded area and burst into flames. Mr. Knox climbed onto the hood of the truck and pulled the driver out of the cab and quickly moved the driver away from the wreckage as the cab became fully engulfed in flames.
“I wasn’t looking for a pat on the back or an award when I stopped to help the woman out of the truck,” said Knox, “I am humbled to receive this award and it’s truly an honor to be recognized.”
The 65 employees presented with awards at this ceremony for excellence and heroic actions include:
- Secretary’s Award for Innovation
- Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Counseling Service Portal Team: This team developed and implemented the Power-Bi Based "CISM Counseling Service Portal." This portal transformed how Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s (FLETC) Critical Incident/Stress Management counselors track encounters, monitor collected data, and develop methods and processes to address student wellness and resiliency needs.
- Sean McCue, Vincent Fields, Brandon Ridens, Brandon Spragins, Crystal Vazquez-Barrett and David Slusher
- The Litigation Modernization Team is a government model for transformational change composed of staff from several program offices across Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The team leveraged subject matter skill sets to achieve innovative efficiencies to better handle litigation and information disclosure. A true change agent, the litigation modernization team’s work has resulted in millions of dollars of cost savings and facilitated the use of automation to save hundreds of hours of manual work.
- Tate Keenan
- Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Counseling Service Portal Team: This team developed and implemented the Power-Bi Based "CISM Counseling Service Portal." This portal transformed how Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s (FLETC) Critical Incident/Stress Management counselors track encounters, monitor collected data, and develop methods and processes to address student wellness and resiliency needs.
- Secretary’s Award for Team Excellence
- Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) State and Local Engagement Team: This team improved CWMD’s engagement with state and local stakeholders through robust outreach and education, senior level site visits across the country, constant staff contact on a personal level, and superb delivery of products and services. These efforts have improved state and local agencies’ understanding of CWMD available resources and support and in turn enhanced CWMD’s ability to fulfill its mission accomplishment.
- Donald Clarkson
- Donald Clarkson
- Ethos Training Development Team: This team was integral to designing and producing the professional-public service ethos program. The program delivers on the Secretary’s intent to ensure the foundation of our workforce development focuses on what it means to be a public servant and to hold ourselves to the highest standards of honor, integrity, and ethical conduct to earn and protect the public trust.
- Brian Moses, Michael Creo, and Antonio Scurlock.
- Brian Moses, Michael Creo, and Antonio Scurlock.
- Federal Law Enforcement Training Center’s Enforcement Operations Division: FLETC was given a congressional mandate to deliver the use of force instructor training program to federal, state and local and tribal law enforcement organizations. From August 2021 through September 2022, the FLETC enforcement Operations Division, use of force branch successfully delivered 54 iterations to 942 students. Additionally, this team has completed a use of force curriculum review conference and completed infrastructure upgrades to the FLETC use of force complex.
- Kevin Rourke, Liberty Moore, Bryan Feeney, Albert Medlock, Andrew French, Charles Moore, Christopher Lair, Dion Deroia, Gerardo Durazo, Glenn Demar, Gregory Amundson, Jefferey Dolson, Joey Comstock, Kenneth Stewart, Martin Roddini, Mary Mara, Matthew Swartz, Michael Niven, Penny Jones, Samuel Lochridge, Scott Reed, Todd Hoover and Ulyess Hutchens.
- Kevin Rourke, Liberty Moore, Bryan Feeney, Albert Medlock, Andrew French, Charles Moore, Christopher Lair, Dion Deroia, Gerardo Durazo, Glenn Demar, Gregory Amundson, Jefferey Dolson, Joey Comstock, Kenneth Stewart, Martin Roddini, Mary Mara, Matthew Swartz, Michael Niven, Penny Jones, Samuel Lochridge, Scott Reed, Todd Hoover and Ulyess Hutchens.
- The H-64 Conversion/Sustainment Program: The team is making significant contributions to the Coast Guard’s fleet by converting and delivering the more capable MH-65E Helicopter and associated logistics that are providing aircrews the platform, tools, and training to successfully execute their missions and return safely. Mission readiness is the measures that matter most. In just the past year the MH-63E has saved more than 200 people in peril, with 127 of those directly hoisted or carried into MH-65E’s, and another 81 assisted in their rescues by other assets. That’s one person rescued almost every other day.
- Lieutenant Commander Charles Whitesel, Commander Christopher Presnell, Lieutenant Commander Margaret Morgan, Chief Warrant Officer Michael Pharr, Lieutenant Commander Christopher Breuer, Lieutenant Commander Eric Barnett, Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Shockley, Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Frumkin, Petty Officer First Class Kassandra Hunter, Lieutenant Kenneth Irsik, Chief Petty Officer Kevin Bartholomew, Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Bone, Chief Warrant Officer Roderick Ansley, Petty Officer First Class Shannon Costales, Chief Warrant Officer Jason Pharr, Chief Warrant Officer Michael Mauro, and Lieutenant Commander Daniel Miller.
- Lieutenant Commander Charles Whitesel, Commander Christopher Presnell, Lieutenant Commander Margaret Morgan, Chief Warrant Officer Michael Pharr, Lieutenant Commander Christopher Breuer, Lieutenant Commander Eric Barnett, Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Shockley, Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Frumkin, Petty Officer First Class Kassandra Hunter, Lieutenant Kenneth Irsik, Chief Petty Officer Kevin Bartholomew, Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Bone, Chief Warrant Officer Roderick Ansley, Petty Officer First Class Shannon Costales, Chief Warrant Officer Jason Pharr, Chief Warrant Officer Michael Mauro, and Lieutenant Commander Daniel Miller.
- In August 2021, the U.S. Government began a humanitarian rescue operation of American citizens and Afghan Nationals from Afghanistan. Without critical, rapid information technology support, Operation Allies Refuse/Operation Allies welcome would not have been successful.
- Kendra Riley
- Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) State and Local Engagement Team: This team improved CWMD’s engagement with state and local stakeholders through robust outreach and education, senior level site visits across the country, constant staff contact on a personal level, and superb delivery of products and services. These efforts have improved state and local agencies’ understanding of CWMD available resources and support and in turn enhanced CWMD’s ability to fulfill its mission accomplishment.
- Secretary’s Champion of Equity Award
- The Office of Trade Task Force for Women: In its first year, the Office of Trade Task Force for Women set the standard for achieving gender equity and equality at CBP, laying the foundation for a long-term effort to positively impact office of trade culture and ensure greater inclusiveness and diversity. The Task Force raised awareness and educated both office of trade and the greater bias, domestic violence, sexual assault, and more.
- Kimberly Wiggins
- The Office of Trade Task Force for Women: In its first year, the Office of Trade Task Force for Women set the standard for achieving gender equity and equality at CBP, laying the foundation for a long-term effort to positively impact office of trade culture and ensure greater inclusiveness and diversity. The Task Force raised awareness and educated both office of trade and the greater bias, domestic violence, sexual assault, and more.
- Secretary’s Award for Leadership Excellence
- Many volunteers served temporarily in support of Operation Allies Refuge and Operation Allies Welcome, as well as in support of CBP to help manage the increased flow of migrants crossing the Southwest Border. Thanks to exceptional leadership, DHS was able to meet the challenges of these extraordinary operations through the DHS volunteer force.
- Derrick Williams
- Many volunteers served temporarily in support of Operation Allies Refuge and Operation Allies Welcome, as well as in support of CBP to help manage the increased flow of migrants crossing the Southwest Border. Thanks to exceptional leadership, DHS was able to meet the challenges of these extraordinary operations through the DHS volunteer force.
- Secretary’s Meritorious Service Silver Medal Award
- Between August 1, 2021, and September 1, 2022, Mark Royer supported FLETC’s strategic goals through a series of initiatives that resulted in a savings to the Agency of nearly three million dollars. These savings were vital to the organization’s mission and allowed FLETC to address numerous critical infrastructure needs.
- Mark Royer
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- Mark Royer
- The Operation Allies Welcome unified coordination group is being recognized for its outstanding support to Operation Allies welcome or OAW. OAW was an effort to safely and securely resettle nearly 90,000 evacuated Afghans in the United States. Spanning multiple government agencies and nongovernmental organizations, OAW helped deliver vital services at multiple U.S. safe havens to assist in the resettlement of vulnerable Afghans to communities around the country.
- Francesca Munoz, Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Melissa Mercado and Coast Guard Lieutenant Junior Grade Kelsey Wilson.
- Between August 1, 2021, and September 1, 2022, Mark Royer supported FLETC’s strategic goals through a series of initiatives that resulted in a savings to the Agency of nearly three million dollars. These savings were vital to the organization’s mission and allowed FLETC to address numerous critical infrastructure needs.
- Secretary’s Exceptional Service Gold Medal Award
- Operation Allies Welcome Safe Haven and Point-of-Entry Leadership Team worked on-the-ground efforts to welcome and resettle Afghan nationals following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The teams at the safe havens and points-of-entry helped to coordinate the implementation of OAW and worked outside their day-to-day responsibilities to integrate other key federal departments and agencies. As part of an operation that frequently went beyond the normal mission of the agency, they went above and beyond to serve and support those who stood alongside the United States.
- Robert Shaffer, Thomas Decker, Truman Body and Jeffrey Darin.
- Operation Allies Welcome Safe Haven and Point-of-Entry Leadership Team worked on-the-ground efforts to welcome and resettle Afghan nationals following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The teams at the safe havens and points-of-entry helped to coordinate the implementation of OAW and worked outside their day-to-day responsibilities to integrate other key federal departments and agencies. As part of an operation that frequently went beyond the normal mission of the agency, they went above and beyond to serve and support those who stood alongside the United States.
- Secretary’s Award for Valor
- Shortly after leaving the HSI Jackson Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent John Rackley encountered a disabled vehicle and a driver covered in blood on the side of the road in Mississippi. Special Agent Rackley immediately noticed the victim had suffered several gunshot wounds. He heroically and swiftly jumped into action and saved the victim’s life.
- John Rackley
- John Rackley
- On October 2, 2021, while traveling with his family on Interstate 10 between Jacksonville and Tallahassee, Florida, Tim Knox witnessed a tractor trailer careen off the road, crash into a wooded area and burst into flames. The fire prevented Mr. Knox from opening the doors, but he saw the driver stick her arm out of the broken windshield. Mr. Knox climbed onto the hood of the truck and pulled the driver out of the cab. He then moved the driver away from the wreckage became fully engulfed in flames. Without the heroic, quick response, the driver most certainly would have perished.
- Tim Knox
- Tim Knox
- Shortly after leaving the HSI Jackson Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent John Rackley encountered a disabled vehicle and a driver covered in blood on the side of the road in Mississippi. Special Agent Rackley immediately noticed the victim had suffered several gunshot wounds. He heroically and swiftly jumped into action and saved the victim’s life.
DHS has the third largest workforce of any federal department, behind the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department is home to more than 92,000 sworn law enforcement officers, the greatest number of law enforcement officers of any department in the federal government. DHS has committed to increasing the representation of women in law enforcement or related occupations at DHS to 30% by 2023. Over 54,000 veterans, or nearly 21% of the workforce, continue serving their country by working at DHS.
DHS operational components interact more frequently on a daily basis with the American public than any other federal department, from travelers moving through air, land, and sea ports of entry, to businesses importing goods into the country, to immigrants applying for services. To learn more about the impact DHS makes every day, visit: DHS.gov/TodayDHSWill
Last year, DHS launched a hiring initiative recruiting hundreds of experts in digital user experience and design for the Customer Experience Program. DHS is working to improve the overall experience for those accessing government services and benefits by accepting mobile driver’s licenses, reducing processing times for immigration benefits, and simplifying FEMA policies when applying for assistance.
For the full list of awardees, visit DHS.gov/2023-Secretarys-Awards.