INSCOM personnel participate in annual remembrance of former colleague

FORT BELVOIR, Virginia -- Friends, family and former colleagues of the late Maria Dunn, the former intelligence security chief for U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command, recently gathered at Cape Charles, Virginia, for an annual bike ride to honor her memory, Oct. 24.

These friends of Dunn, known during the event as "Team Maria," participate annually in the "Between the Waters Bike Tour," which invites riders to participate in a scenic bicycle ride along Virginia's eastern shore. For those remembering Dunn, a bicycle ride along the eastern shore is a perfect way to remember her as she was an enthusiastic bicyclist. Dunn passed away following a similar ride in 2011.

"A lot of peoples' lives were changed the day she passed away," said Joe Dunn, Jr., brother of Maria Dunn. "For those who didn't know her, Maria was an exceptionally upbeat and positive person. She would have been very disappointed in us if we wallowed in grief at her passing."

The tour is hosted annually by Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore (CBES) and welcomed more than 900 cyclists this year. Team Maria included 37 riders and volunteers wearing colorful jerseys and t-shirts.

"The jerseys included a red heart and lots of pink to support breast cancer awareness," said Dunn, Jr. "Breast cancer awareness was a cause Maria was passionate about and we want to continue her passion."

Additionally, INSCOM honors Dunn annually with the Maria V. Dunn Award for Security Excellence. The honor is awarded to the INSCOM intelligence professional who best exemplifies the commitment to excellence and outstanding performance in the command's intelligence security field.

This year's recipient of the Maria V. Dunn Award is Lee V. McKinney, an intelligence security professional with INSCOM's 470th MI Brigade at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for his work which helped improve security requirements and objectives throughout the command and its 19 subordinate commands across the globe. McKinney received the award during a ceremony at INSCOM headquarters, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Aug. 11.