News

Western & Central Mass. Residents Honored for 2005 Federal Service

HOLYOKE, Mass., Sept. 16, 2005 – The Third Annual Excellence in Government Awards were announced yesterday by the Federal Executive Association of Western Massachusetts (FEAWM). These awards, which honor the “best and the brightest” in local federal service, were presented at a luncheon at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Awards were presented to outstanding federal employees in 13 categories.

FEAWM board members David Tuttle, State Director of USDA Rural Development in Amherst, and Jeffrey Anliker, Assistant State Conservationist for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Amherst, announced the following winners:

• Distinguished Federal Executive: Jeffrey Anliker or Belchertown, Assistant State Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Distinguished Federal Manager: David Levin of Holyoke, Chief Quality Manager, Department of Veterans Affairs
• Distinguished Federal Supervisor: Alice M. Mitchell of Belchertown, Chief, Career Enhancement, 439th Mission Support Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base
• Administrative Assistant of the Year: Janice Colby of Worthington, Administrative Support Assistant, 439th Mission Support Squadron, Westover Air Reserve Base
• Support Person of the Year: Susan M. Castner of Chicopee, Human Resource Assistant, Department of Defense, Springfield Military Entrance Processing Station, Westover Air Reserve Base
• Outstanding Service/Trade Employee of the Year: Senior Master Sergeant James T. Mitchell, Sr. of Ludlow, Squadron Maintenance Expeditor, 439th AMXS, Westover Air Reserve Base
• Professional Employee of the Year: Kara Duquette, Military Family Housing Director, U.S. Marine Corps
• Technical/Scientific Employee of the Year: Nancy McGarigal of Shutesbury, Senior Natural Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Outstanding Federal Volunteer: Edward P. Downey of Easthampton, Volunteer Transportation Driver, Department of Veteran Affairs
• Outstanding Individual Customer Service Effort: Randy Sujat of Chicopee, Construction Representative, U.S Army Corps of Engineers
• Award for Creativity and Innovation: Deborah K. Johnson-Hawks of Greenfield, Assistant State Resource Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Outstanding Community Service: Laurence N. Boutiette, Jr. of Grafton, Civil Engineer, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Unsung Hero Award: Albert G. Aldrich III of West Springfield, Transportation Quality Assurance Evaluator, 439th LRS, Westover Air Reserve Base

A special honor award was also presented to Michael Kennedy, Director of Personnel, Westover Air Reserve Base, who is stepping down from the FEAWM board. The award was presented for his past service.

The FEAWM is an association of more than 20 federal agencies that serve the people of western Massachusetts. The FEAWM includes leaders from the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Interior, Justice, Labor, Treasury and Veterans Affairs, as well as the District Court, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., General Services Administration, Small Business Administration and the Social Security Administration.

For more information on the U.S. federal government, visit USA.gov