ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - The careers of three APG Soldiers and six civilians formally came to an end April 25 during the installation Retirement Ceremony at the Ball Conference Center.
The deputy commander of the 20th Support Command (CBRNE), Col. Kyle Nordmeyer presided over the event and presented awards to the honorees.
Nordmeyer hailed the retirees, whose combined service totaled more than 217, years as having "spent a life [time] in the arena." Noting their individual achievements, he offered his personal thanks for their service as well as the thanks of local commands, the Army and the nation.
"I could not be more proud to host this ceremony," he said. "We wish you all the best as you transition into new eras of success. And remember, even though you are now retirees, you are still part of the Army Family."
The honorees included two Soldiers from the 20th Support Command (CBRNE), 1st Sgt. Jeffrey A. Schadow and Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Williams, and Staff Sgt. Owen J. Cain from Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic. Civilian retirees included three from the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command: Lori M. Hardy-Simo, Dennis R. LeBlanc and Charles P. Pscherer; Paul G. Schabdach from the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center; Laura T. Nesbit of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Command and Ruth A. Golding of U.S. Army Garrison, APG.
1st Sgt. Jeffrey A. Schadow
Schadow was awarded the Army Meritorious Service Medal with orders signed by Maj. Gen. Leslie Smith, commander, 20th Spt. Cmd., a Presidential Certificate of Appreciation signed by President Barack Obama; a Department of the Army Certificate of Retirement signed by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno; and a U.S. flag and pin.
Schadow joined the Army in June 1992 as a cannon crewmember stationed at Fort Sill, Okla. Three years later he volunteered for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Duty. His previous assignments include Fort Rucker, Ala.; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Dix, N.J.; Fort Stewart, Ga.; one humanitarian deployment to Bosnia and three combat deployments to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Schadow, who is married with two children, retires Aug. 31 with 21 years of service.
Sgt. 1st Class
Michael L. Williams
Williams was awarded the Army Meritorious Service Medal with orders signed by Maj. Gen. Leslie Smith, commander, 20th Spt. Cmd., a Presidential Certificate of Appreciation signed by President Barak Obama; a Department of the Army Certificate of Retirement signed by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno; and a U.S. flag and coin. His previous assignments include Fort Lee, Va.; Hanau, Germany; Fort Hood, Texas; and Korea. He retires July 1 with more than 20 years of service.
Staff Sgt. Owen J. Cain
Cain also received the Army Meritorious Service Medal signed by Col. Donald West, U.S. Army Medical Command; the Presidential Certificate of Appreciation and the Department of the Army Certificate of Retirement as well as the U.S. flag and pin. His wife, Janet, received the DA Certificate of Appreciation.
A native of Atlanta, Ga., Cain enlisted in the Army in 1974 and first served as an automatic rifleman, Grenadier, Claymore mine specialist, M60 Machine gunner, and 90mm recoils rifleman. His past assignments include Hawaii, Guam, Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and APG. A break to National Guard and Reserve status included deployments to Bosnia and to Fort Gordon, Ga. in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Cain and his wife have three children and six grandchildren. He retires June 30 with 26 years of service.
Lori M. Hardy-Simo
After 37 years of government service, Hardy-Simo culminates her career as an information technology manager in the CECOM, Software Engineering Center. She retired April 3. Hardy-Simo was awarded the Army Commander's Award and the DA certificates of appreciation and retirement signed by Maj. Gen. Robert S. Ferrell. Her husband Frank received the DA Certificate of Appreciation, also signed by Ferrell.
Dennis R. LeBlanc
Leblanc culminates his career as a logistics management specialist with CECOM. He retired April 3 with 47 years of combined military and civilian service. LeBlanc was awarded the Superior Civilian Service Award, DA certificates of retirement and appreciation, and a DA Certificate of Retirement went to his wife Meridith Le Blanc.
Paul G. Schabdach
Recognized as an international subject matter expert on chemical and biological hazard sources, Schabdach culminates his career as the director of the Special Training Facility at ECBC. He retired March 31 with 42 years of service. Schabdach was awarded the Commander's Civilian Service Award and DA certificates of retirement and appreciation signed by Joseph D. Wienand, ECBD technical director, and his wife Kiyomi Schabdach received the DA Certificate of Appreciation signed by Dr. Carrie Poor, ECBC.
Laura T. Nesbitt
Accompanied by her husband, Pete Sklarow, Nesbitt was awarded the Commander's Award for Civilian Service and DA certificates of retirement and appreciation signed by Jill Smith, director of CERDEC. Her husband received the DA Certificate of Appreciation signed by Smith Michael Skurla, director, Software Engineering Division. Nesbitt culminates her career as the Common Network Planning Software project lead at CERDEC. She retired April 1 with nearly 36 years of service.
Ruth A. Golding
Golding began her federal career in the former Women's Army Corps, serving from 1974 to 1977 at the former Edgewood Arsenal. She ends her career as an environmental engineer with the Garrison's DPW. She retired Jan. 31 with more than 29 years of service. Golding was awarded the Commander's Award for Civilian Service and DA certificates of retirement and appreciation signed by Garrison Commander Col. Gregory McClinton.
Charles P. "Pat" Scherer
Scherer graduated from Harford Community College, served in the U.S. Navy and worked for the B&O Railroad before beginning his federal career. He retired March 30 with 15 years of service. He ends his career as a general accounting specialist with the CECOM G8. Scherer was awarded the Commander's Award for Civilian Service and DA certificates of retirement and appreciation.
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