Col. David J. Luders, commander, RIA-JMTC, presided over the ceremony, discussed historical events over the last 40 years in the careers of the employees and wished them well as they transition to retirement.
Luders presented awards and certificates of retirement to 14 individuals, and their Families to recognize more than 475 years of combined service to the Department of Defense.
"The 14 people retiring today represent a total of 479 years of combined federal experience," Luders said. "That is almost half millennia. To put that number into perspective… 479 years ago, Spanish Explorer Hernando de Soto, discovered Florida in the year 1539."
Don Bowen, who served as the director of program management at RIA-JMTC, began his career on the Rock Island Arsenal in June 1983.
"Working for the Army at the Rock Island Arsenal has given me so many opportunities to support those who defend our freedom," he said. "I will look back on my career with fondness and I am excited to start a new chapter in my life."
Jim McFarlen, who worked in logistics integration at the Joint Munitions Command, started his career as a federal intern. His job was cut during a reduction in force, however, he approached RIA recruiters at a job fair in 2005 and found an opportunity to serve the nation as a new intern once again.
"The federal intern program is one of the best programs in the government," explained McFarlen. It allowed me to transform from a marine biologist to an information management specialist to a logistics management specialist. None of that would have been possible without the intern program."
The quarterly retirement and retreat ceremony is a joint effort hosted by a major tenant organization on the Rock Island Arsenal. The Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center was the fourth-quarter host.
Retirees included:
• Sergeant First Class Patrick Wagner, ASC - 26 years
• Ms. Margaret Johnson, Department of the Army Civilian, JMC -- 41 years
• Ms. Mary Harder, Department of the Army Civilian, JMC -- 40 years
• Ms. Venita Gatheright, Department of the Army Civilian, ASC -- 40 years
• Mr. Francis Schradeya, Department of the Army Civilian, JMTC -- 39 years
• Ms. Constance Gorgas, Department of the Army Civilian, JMC -- 37 years
• Mr. Kalvin Siebler, Department of the Army Civilian, JMC -- 37 years
• Ms. Melanie Armes, Department of the Army Civilian, JMC -- 34 years
• Mr. John Kern, Department of the Army Civilian, JMC -- 33 years
• Mr. Darwin Briones, Department of the Army Civilian, JMC -- 31 years
• Mr. Donald Bowen, Department of the Army Civilian, JMTC -- 31 years
• Mr. Ricky Williams, Department of the Army Civilian, JMC -- 31 years
• Ms. Sheri Blessing, Department of the Army Civilian, JMC -- 30 years
• Mr. James McFarlen, Department of the Army Civilian, JMC -- 29 years
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