JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. - Egon Hawrylak, a 40-year federal employee, has some words of advice for those starting a career with the U.S. government.
"I think they just need to look for and seek out those tough assignments," Hawrylak said. "I think you have to build your credentials, put a good packet together and go to whatever schools are available.
"Don't turn a job down because it sounds hard. You've got to tackle it. If you do, I think you're setting yourself up for success."
And Hawrylak certainly is an authority on successful careers: he has four decades of federal service, including 30 years in the military and another decade as a federal civilian employee.
Currently, he serves as deputy commander of Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region, a subordinate command to U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and as a member of the Senior Executive Service, Hawrylak assists in conducting a variety of military operations throughout the National Capital Region. The headquarters oversees homeland defense, incident management and defense support of civil authorities in the National Capital Region.
In other words, the D.C.-based military unit coordinates and collaborates with various federal, state, and local response agencies to ensure the Department of Defense is continually ready to support civil authorities in the event of a catastrophic event, such as a terrorist attack or natural disaster.
That mission requires continual training, collaboration and communication with other government and response agencies. As the deputy commander for JFHQ-NCR, Hawrylak supports the core functions of the unit, including fiscal and budgetary planning, manpower and personnel, logistics, operations, intelligence and readiness.
"Being able to deal with that set of professionals, whether it be the Secret Service, the FBI or our first responder community, is absolutely wonderful and to coordinate national security events as a collaborative team I think is something you can't find in any other organization," he said.
In addition to protecting Washington, D.C., Hawrylak said the Army side of this multi-service headquarters - the U.S. Army Military District of Washington - plays a major role on the "national and international stage." MDW oversees the 3d Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and The U.S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own." Both units provide ceremonial support regularly to funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and perform at a variety of public forums in the area for thousands of spectators annually. The command also oversees the Army Air Operations Group providing rotary and fixed wing support to Army senior leaders and contingencies.
"Our Ceremonies and Special Events Office orchestrates White House state arrivals; they orchestrate the official wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery," he said.
Hawrylak explained MDW is a direct reporting unit to the Department of the Army and serves as the "core staff" of the JFHQ-NCR when activated as a joint task force. JFHQ-NCR was formed in 2003 as a direct result of the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, when military and civilian leaders recognized a need for strong cooperation and communication between agencies and national and local units in times of emergency or to prevent such attacks.
"The dynamics of the command, the multi-service mix, the Air Force civilians mixed in, the Army civilians, these folks, some of whom have been here as long as I have, are proud of what they did on 9/11 and are proud of their mission today in terms of securing and protecting the nation's capital," he said.
Before he became a civil servant, the Toledo, Ohio, native served 30 years in the Army. He was commissioned following his graduation from the University of Toledo as a distinguished military graduate. He went on to serve with the Army's elite 101st Airborne and 10th Mountain Divisions. He deployed to both Haiti and Somalia and spent three years on the Joint Staff. After retiring as a colonel in 2004, he served as the civilian deputy director for operations, U.S. Army Military District of Washington until 2007.
"In 2007, they created this particular billet, and I was fortunate enough to be selected and hired. I'd like to stay here until I retire," he said. "I was fortunate enough to be selected as the first and up to this point, only deputy commander."
Hawrylak's office on the Fort McNair portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall pays homage to his love of the Washington Redskins and his accomplishments both as a service member and as a member of the Senior Executive Service (Hawrylak is an "SES-1," the equivalent to a brigadier general in the Army). His office leaves no room for guessing about his military roots: Commanders coins are arranged under glass on a table; burgundy and gold memorabilia is visible throughout.
Hawrylak also shared a glimpse into his personal life in his interview with the Pentagram, saying his identical twin brother also retired as an Army colonel. He purchased his first home after retiring from the military, explaining that he never felt comfortable owning a home while on active duty.
"I finished off the basement with the typical man cave stuff and media room," he said with a smile. "I've laid tile, done backsplash. It's fun to own something and put your blood and sweat into it."
The proud father of two also has plans to help out with renovations at his son and daughter's homes.
He credits both his military career and the schools he attended while serving with helping prepare him for his current civilian role.
"I went to both the Armed Forces Staff College and the National War College, which are more joint inter-agency schools," he said. "By default, I gained a lot of experience there."
Though he says there is no such thing as a "typical" work day, the most rewarding part about "getting up in the morning and coming to work are the employees here," he said.
"We've got professional, dedicated folks who come to work here," he said. "They're very, very proud in terms of what they do, whether that's standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknown, or planning, executing and coordinating a national event."
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