TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT, Pa. - A Systems Integration and Support Directorate employee earned a depot-level award for his dedication, training skills, and "can-do" attitude, which helps raise morale dedication and increases production in the Component Refinishing Branch.

Michael McDermott, sandblast leader, claimed the Tobyhanna Employee of the Quarter Award for the second quarter of the 2009 fiscal year.

He modified operations in the shop that saved time, increased productivity, decreased materiel movement and improved processes said Howard Slinger, who was the branch chief when he nominated McDermott for the award. He is the second shift supervisor in the branch.

McDermott has also learned the best possible processes for working on assets, and is recognized as an employee who has expertise on each asset that is handled in the shop.

"[McDermott] has done everything he could possibly do to learn every function in [the branch]. He is capable of doing any task in the shop, from equipment cleaner to sandblaster, to sandblast leader," explains Christopher Paulic, branch chief.

McDermott's co-workers also note that they can always count on him to help when needed.

"He will often travel to other areas of the depot to do work onsite, instead of moving the assets to the [Industrial Operations Facility], which is a great help in keeping with our Lean initiative," Slinger says, adding that McDermott is the main person to look to when training new hires, and takes on any project he is given with outstanding results.

"Fellow workers look to McDermott for advice on difficult decisions when a leader or supervisor is not present. He does his job with a sense of pride and dedication that is a direct reflection on others."

"Not only does he willingly and diligently take on any work load he is assigned, he possesses the logic and common sense to suggest improvements and apply them to our work processes," says Dave Tyler, sandblaster in the branch.

"There is not one specific accomplishment that describes him; he has mastered every duty that was given to him," Slinger says, adding "his work ethic toward the depot and the warfighter is the definition of selfless service."

McDermott's supervisors and co-workers note his dedication, and that he constantly puts the mission first by working extended hours and volunteering for temporary duty trips. Paulic adds that he "is my 'go to guy' for delegation of authority in my absence."

During his depot career he has earned two On-the-Spot and two Special Act or Service awards.

McDermott and his wife, Marirose, reside in Scranton. They are parents to Isabella, 9; Patrick, 6; Ryan, 5 and Molly, 3.

All civilian employees are eligible for the Employee of the Quarter Award. Winners receive an optional special parking space for the quarter in addition to a $500 cash award and plaque.

Workers selected as an employee of the quarter are eligible to compete at the U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command-level.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Defense Department's largest center for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety of electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna's missions support all branches of the Armed Forces.

About 5,600 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command. Headquartered at Fort Monmouth, N.J., the command's mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.