Vollrath Awards recognize outstanding Army Europe human resource leaders

By Sgt. Daniel Cole, U.S. Army Europe Public AffairsMarch 9, 2015

Cutting their Cake
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Awardee
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - Capt. Howard Markel (left), officer-in-charge of the personnel office for the 158th Aviation Regiment, 5th Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, poses for a photo alongside Maj. Gen. Mark McQueen, deputy chief of staff for Arm... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
General's Remarks
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – WIESBADEN, Germany - Staff Sgt. Ma Puckett, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the 173rd Brigade Support Battalion's personnel office, 173rd Airborne Brigade, listens to remarks by Maj. Gen. Mark McQueen, deputy chief of staff for Army Europe's mob... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WIESBADEN, Germany -- Four Soldiers and two Department of the Army civilians were recognized here, Feb. 19, for their excellence in human resources at Army Europe's 5th Annual Frederick E. Vollrath Awards ceremony.

This year's winners are:

-Officer of the Year: Capt. Howard Markel, officer-in-charge of the personnel office for the 158th Aviation Regiment, 5th Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade.

-Warrant Officer of the Year: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Cristal Heichelbech, for her work as a human resources technician for the Plans, Operations and Exercises Division, U.S. Army Europe headquarters' personnel division.

-Noncommissioned officer of the Year: Staff Sgt. Ma Puckett, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the 173rd Brigade Support Battalion's personnel office, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

-Soldier of the Year: Spc. Juan Moreno, a human resource specialist assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

-Senior Civilian of the Year: Shane L. Thomas, Chief of Personnel Actions Division and Chief of Executive Agent Joint Awards Staff at U.S. NATO Brigade.

-Junior Civilian of the Year: Philip Freeborn, a human resources specialist at 7th Civil Support Command.

The program was named after retired Lt. Gen. Frederick E. Vollrath and developed to recognize human resource personnel for their quality service and leadership. Vollrath was a 45-year professional in the human resources field and the second adjutant general officer to be promoted to lieutenant general.

Larry Gottardi, Deputy Chief of Staff of Army Europe's personnel section, emphasized the importance of the program and its role in helping recognize excellence among human resource professional.

"If you look at where our honorees have subsequently placed within the Army-wide adjutant general corps's competitions, we [Army Europe] are recognizing the best in the Army," Gottardi said.

Additionally, Maj. Gen. Mark McQueen, Army Europe's deputy commanding general for manpower and reserve affairs, spoke at the ceremony, emphasizing that these Army Europe Soldiers and Department of the Army civilians are committed to improving the team they serve.

"The honorees that are here today epitomize commitment," McQueen stated. "They are committed to being their very, very best. They prevailed because they were committed to doing that which was necessary to take care of our Soldiers, our civilians and our family members."

"Our actions every day benefit the Soldiers, government employees and the Family members and at the end of the day that is the real reward," Freeborn said after the ceremony.

"I wasn't looking for any recognition," Moreno said. "I was just doing my job and going the extra mile because that is the mentality of my battalion."

Moreno also explained that he was thankful for the senior leaders in the 173rd who were always providing opportunities for success.

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About us: U.S. Army Europe is uniquely positioned in its 51-country area of responsibility to advance American strategic interests in Europe and Eurasia. The relationships built during the more than 1,000 theater security cooperation events, held in more than 40 countries each year, lead directly to support for multinational contingency operations around the world, strengthen regional partnerships and enhance global security.