It is awards season in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the excellence and quality of the employees of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC) is on full display! Numerous employees of the MMAC received recognition for their outstanding work as individuals and teams in several different categories. Although widely known, these awards prove that MMAC employees are extremely dedicated to (and are passionate about) the FAA’s mission!
The FAA Administrator’s 2020 Awards Ceremony honored achievements from across the agency on May 13, 2021, and celebrated the amazing actions and hard work that define the FAA. The event recognized individuals and groups from across the FAA. Their work has enhanced the FAA’s ability to run the safest and most efficient aerospace system in the world.
Dorothy Tharnish Customer Service Team Award – FAA Academy Regulatory Standards Team:
Brian Rochester, Carlos Agueda, Lori Antonich, Richard Belk, Richard Boar, Gloria Brewer, Regina Brock, Kenneth M. Brown, Matthew Disch, Sherrie Files, James Fox, Ronald Gendron, Patrick Gillespie, Truman Hedding, Arturo Hernandez, Gerald Higley, Lonnie Jeffcoat, Timothy Jones, Bradley Keith, Stephanie Kelly, Jeffery Kerl, Kathie Marshall, Carlton McLain, Jason Raymond McLaughlin, Ruy Moreira, Robert Newell, Patrick Penson, Earl Poole Jr., Robert Posar, Shane Preston, Patrick Stephens, Thomas Tilson, Rahdames Villafana, Barry Watson, Christopher Wehrmann, Sandra Williams, Douglas Wilson, William Witten, Kenneth Working, David Yeley, and William Young
The team was recognized for their demonstrated commitment to customer service by converting 39 Aviation Safety Inspector courses (which were geared toward new hires) from in-person to remote format during the global health crisis. Congratulations!
Dorothy Tharnish Customer Service Team Award – Facility Management Specialists Team:
Travis Hildebrand, Robert Blochowiak, Robert Brenizer, Brian Butler, Charles Collins, Walter R. Geml, Timothy Hibner, and James McKelvy
The team was honored for the operation and maintenance of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center facilities during the global health crisis and beyond. Congratulations!
Financial Discipline Excellence Award – Enterprise Services Center Team:
Melissa Howze, Tamala Barnes, Steve Aube, Angie Lee, Amanda Harrison, Rodney Sloan, Alex Chadwick, and Kevin O’Connor
The team won this award for providing quality and cost-effective shared services in financial management. Congratulations!
Aerospace Technology Innovation Team Award of Excellence – MMAC & WJHTC Team:
Tony Darnell, Valdrie Buford, Jim Doskow, Allan Dolezal, and Laura Shepherd-Madsen
The Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center and the William J. Hughes Technical Center Collaboration Team were honored for advancing innovative joint initiatives by breaking down silos, sharing communications, and building connections and center capabilities. Congratulations!
Outstanding FAA Environmental Achievement Team Award – MMAC Energy Team:
Russel Goering, Kevin Coker, Vicki Ray, Chad Nimmo, Kyle Daniel, Charles Collins, Daniel Ward, and John Akin
The team was recognized for their innovative efforts in energy conservation at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. Congratulations!
FAA Agency Assist Team Award of Excellence – Pivot to Telework Team:
Jeffrey Adam, Roger Ambrose, David Anderson, Jason Armstrong, Kristen Baldwin, Steve Bautista, John Benson, Diana Bernardi, Nicholas Bianco, Lori Bishop, James Bitrick, Robert Boggi, Todd Bonds, Melanie Boteler, Tami Branham, Kyle Brimage, Peter Bruno, Willaton Burns, Deames Bynum, Bo Cappabianca, Jeffrey Carbonetti, Christopher Carl, Mike Carlson, Nicholas Ceferatti, Larry Cloud, Scott Dalaba, Michael W. Davis, Janet Deano, Danielle DeVore, Glenn Dexter, Fritz Duchatellier, Tom Dwyer, Brian Englert, Matthew Fallwell, Mike Falteisek, Mark Freeman, Mark Frisk, Sylvia Greaux-Bagley, Larry Grossman, Michael Hammer, Brian Harmon, Jonathan Haupt, Minoo Hejazi, Deborah Holland, Li Huang, Christopher Johnson, Carla Jones, Teresa Korevaar, Susan Lake, Debra Levy, Sharon Lombardi, Debra Lyons, Natesh Manikoth, Jamie Mansell, Tsung-Wei May, Steve May, Mike McDonnell, Sean McHugh, Sean McIntyre, David L. Miller, Gary Miskie, Carmen Molina, Maylu Moreno, Eric Morrow, Enoch Moses, Joaquin Mosquera, Joann Napolitano, Elizabeth Neal, Robert Creon Mims, Tim Novosad, Robert O'Hara, Dedrian Parmer, Theresa Payne, Emily Phillips, Jeffrey Pierson, Emily Puente, Walter Rada, Jerry Ramirez, Vincent Rand, Lise Reichard, Robert Rein, Johnny Robeaux, Shelly Rodenburg, Steve Rose, Dennis Roy, Jerry Russell, Kevin Shannon, Lori Sparks, Rodney Stanley, Michael Starke, Scott Stevens, Steve Suarez, Danny Thomas, Alan Thompson, Carolyn Ware, Todd Watts, Steve Watts, Page Weedon, Kellie Weibrecht, Karen Weinert, and Bryan Wolf
The team won the award for their work in preparing and executing a nearly agency-wide telework posture, transitioning more than 27,000 FAA members to telework, enabling them to stay securely connected and productive, and providing an incalculable benefit to all FAA personnel during the global health crisis. Congratulations!
Since 1985, Public Service Recognition Week has been celebrated the first Monday through Sunday in May. The Oklahoma Federal Executive Board sets aside time during this week to honor and recognize the outstanding efforts of our federal employees and military personnel at the annual Excellence in Government Awards Program. This year’s awards ceremony was held May 4, 2021 and recognized many incredible employees of the MMAC!
Administrative/Clerical – Senior: Derrick Jestice, Federal Aviation Administration
Derrick Jestice single-handedly rated over 1,300 Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) and Airway Transportation Systems Specialist (ATSS) application packages out of a total of 5,000 packages received, positively impacting Aviation Careers and the Agency’s ability to meet their hiring goal. Congratulations!
Customer Service Individual – Senior: Steven Gibson, Federal Aviation Administration
Steven Gibson provided outstanding management of critical components that are essential to air traffic control systems, ensuring components are in stock for over 35 different product lines, enabling technicians to quickly restore air traffic control systems. Congratulations!
Government Innovation – Senior: Chase Plumlee, Federal Aviation Administration
Chase Plumlee was responsible for acquiring a Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System contract valued at $100 million, meeting the needs of technical customers and controllers, resulting in seamless support for years to come. Congratulations!
Leadership – Senior: Corey Black, Federal Aviation Administration
Corey Black oversaw the installation of numerous global health crisis response objectives, including installation of approximately 4,000 health warning signs, increased water testing/flushing, HVAC adjustments, increased daily cleaning, and completion of numerous facilities improvements to ensure the safety of the MMAC. Congratulations!
Technical IT/Cyber – Junior: Thomas Thompson, Federal Aviation Administration
Thomas Thompson was instrumental in directly repairing, refurbishing, and implementing processes to repair and refurbish 526 computers in 18 different FAA systems, increasing the reliability and up-time of vital equipment in the National Airspace System. Congratulations!
Customer Service Team – Senior: MMAC Facility Management Specialist (FMS) Team, Federal Aviation Administration
The Facility Management Specialist Team was responsible for over 3,000 building inspections, including evaluating cleanliness, repair needs, and safety issues, resulting in a 77% increase in overall customer satisfaction from the previous year. Congratulations!
Government Innovation – Junior: Supply Chain Team, Navigation and Weather Product Group, Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation
In calendar year 2020, the Supply Chain Team supported over 30,000 customer orders comprised of nearly 141,000 parts required for preventive, routine, and emergency maintenance and repair of assets across the globe, all while transitioning to and operating in full-time telework status. Congratulations!
Government Innovation – Senior: Aviation Careers Onboarding Team, Federal Aviation Administration Human Resources Division
In response to the global health crisis, the Aviation Careers Onboarding Team transitioned hiring processes and systems to virtual formats, ensuring that 2,200 vacant positions were filled, thereby supporting and protecting the nation’s airways. Congratulations!
Public Safety and Security – Junior: FAA COVID-19 Response Team, Federal Aviation Administration
The FAA COVID-19 Response Team’s forward-thinking actions led to the acquisition of limited availability, FDA-approved items, ensuring access to those products during the global health crisis, thereby increasing safety and distribution. Congratulations!
Technical Non-IT/Cyber – Junior: Navigation and Weather Product Group MRO Team, Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation
The Navigation and Weather Product Group MRO Team overcame the challenges of the global health crisis, supporting field operations, completing 5,006 customer orders, to include 1,235 Priority-1 orders, 1,160 Priority-2 orders, 36 Priority-4 orders and 2,575 Priority-5 orders. Congratulations!
OKFEB Special Recognition Awards – Combined Federal Campaign (CFC):
CFC Coordinator/Key Worker – Individual: Debbie Uglean, Federal Aviation Administration
Debbie Uglean managed the highly successful FY20 Combined Federal Campaign at Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center as campaign chair, leading 50 CFC coordinators and keyworkers, resulting in $238,000 dollars raised and a more than 400% increase in participation in certain events. Congratulations!
CFC Coordinator/Key Worker – Team: Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center CFC Champions, Federal Aviation Administration
The MMAC CFC Champions collaborated and organized a highly-effective and far-reaching campaign, overcoming the challenges presented by the global health crisis while creating new and ingenious approaches to adapt the CFC campaign to virtual formats. Congratulations!
CFC Promotions/Special Event Organizer – Individual: Kim Sheppard, Federal Aviation Administration
Kim Sheppard spearheaded a unique and never-before-tried approach to CFC campaigns by overseeing the creation and execution of the first ever CFC Telethon! Her visionary approach to CFC campaigns directly resulted money raised for a total of 47 local and national charities and non-profits. Congratulations!
2020 CFC Hero: Debbie Uglean, Federal Aviation Administration
Debbie Uglean was recognized by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) as a CFC Hero. The CFC Heroes Awards are given to the campaign's "unsung heroes" who made significant differences and demonstrated leadership qualities in their campaign. Congratulations!
2020 CFC National Innovator Award – Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center CFC Champions, Federal Aviation Administration
Kim Sheppard, Debbie Uglean, Cynde Starnes, and Sarah Musler were recognized by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) as CFC Innovators for their groundbreaking work on the CFC Telethon. The CFC Innovators Awards are presented to campaigns that implemented an innovative strategy that led to increased participation and/or contributions. Congratulations for this extraordinary award!
