WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M., Jan. 21, 2010 - Two White Sands Missile Range employees with the Directorate of Emergency Services were recognized for their dedication to their jobs at a Garrison Town Hall meeting Jan. 13 at the Post Theater.

Garrison Commander Col. Chris Wicker awarded Maria Guerrero and Nelda Schwegman with the Commander's Award for Civilian Service for their bravery and dedication during the Dec. 9 windstorm that caused more than $12 million in damages on post.

Guerrero and Schwegman, both working in the police dispatch center when the roof of the building they were in was blown off, survived the incident and continued to operate the dispatch until they could be relocated to another building. "They placed their mission and the mission of DES above their own personal safety," said Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Reginald Daniel. "You did your job and carried on because there were other people there that might have been hurt," Wicker said. "We were just doing our job," Guerrero said following the presentation.