Rock Island Arsenal, Ill. -- U.S. Army Sustainment Command service members and employees gathered for a ceremony to recognize James Coffman, G-4 (Logistics) deputy chief of staff, as the command's Equal Employment Opportunity Champion of the Year, here, Nov. 6.
During the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Kevin O'Connell, ASC commanding general, reflected on Coffman's leadership and contributions to equal opportunity throughout the organization.
"You've done a great deal to set the example and recognize the importance of diversity," O'Connell said. "When we learn about each other's differences, backgrounds, cultures, it makes our team better."
Coffman, joined by his family, spoke about moments that motivated him to make a difference.
He told a story about watching a man in a wheelchair struggle to ascend a snow-covered ramp. That moment brought Coffman to pursue improving wheelchair accessibility at Rock Island Arsenal, resulting in covered ramps to keep wheelchair paths snow free.
"Here's the deal," he said. "Human beings are human beings. We all come from different backgrounds. I've heard that the measure of a society is how that society takes care of all their people, not just some of them."
The EEO Champion of the Year award is exclusive to ASC, and is awarded for exceptional practices regarding equal opportunity in the workforce.
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