FORT BENNING, GA - On September 27, 2019, the Institute honored one of its own as Mr Mauricio Lawson retired after 59 1/2 years of Service to the Nation.

Lawson's translated materials supported classroom instruction VIP visits, thousands of Field Studies trips to government centers and U.S. industry. His contributions helped train and educate nearly 100,000 military, pólice and civilian personnel from the Western Hemisphere.

A Civil Engineer graduate from the Panama National University, Lawson started civil Service as a typist in 1957 with the U.S. Army. Noticing his work quality, he was encouraged by a LTC to move on to become a translator.

"Translation requires much more than simply speaking more than one language, "It takes a strong understanding of grammar, and syntax, which takes many years", said Lawson.

"From typist I worked my way up to acting supervisor then retired in 1989, and after a 3 year break I came back in 1992 to serve as an editor. The school moved to Fort Benning, GA in 1984, but the translation department stayed back until 1986, and now after 59 years my final title is project manager, of the translation division.", he added.