Army Staff Sgt. (promotable) David Manzanares, a health physics specialist at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, was named 2015 OSD Senior Enlisted Service Member of the Year. Michael Rhodes, Director of Administration, Office of the Deputy Chief Management Officer, Department of Defense, made the announcement March 15.
Manzanares, who has been selected for promotion to Sgt. 1st Class, was chosen from a candidate slate of service members in grades E-7 through E-9 representing the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington Headquarters Services, a variety of Defense Agencies and DoD Field Activities. Nominees are assessed on the basis of performance of duty, military bearing, self-expression, general military knowledge, leadership qualities and potential, and must have been assigned to their command for at least one year prior to their nomination.
Manzanares was born in Managua, Nicaragua, but was raised in Miami. He joined the Army in 2003 and served as a preventive medicine technician and health physics NCO for four years before leaving the service for a year during which he served as a health inspector for the State of Florida. In 2008, Manzanares returned to the Army as the preventive medicine team leader for the 227th Preventive Medicine Detachment at Fort Lewis, Washington. The following year, he was assigned as a health physics NCO at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC, and later at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia. In January 2013, Manzanares reported for duty at AFRRI.
In addition to his excellent work performance, Manzanares has also excelled academically. He earned an Associate of Science degree from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, and will graduate in June 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Natural Science and Mathematics from Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, New Jersey.
"I'm truly humbled by my selection for the Office of the Secretary of Defense Service Member of the Year. I know that all of the nominees were the best service members from their respective organizations. I am proud to have been able to represent and win for the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences," said Manzanares.
"We are extremely pleased that Staff Sgt. (promotable) Manzanares was selected for this honor. He is a truly outstanding Soldier and leader who sets the example for all NCOs," said USU Brigade Commander Army Col. (Dr.) Jerome Buller. "His exemplary performance is reflective of the quality of the NCOs here at USU and throughout the Military Health System."
Manzanares is USU's second enlisted member to earn the OSD honor. Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Daryl Mercado, was selected for the Secretary of Defense's 2012 Junior Enlisted Member of the Year award. Mercado, a laboratory technician, served as the leading petty officer and enlisted advisor for the Graduate Education Office at USU. Mercado, who is a now a Chief Hospital Corpsman, was recently selected for a Navy in-service commissioning program to become a Health Care Administration officer.
The award, which includes a Joint Service Commendation Medal, will be presented to Manzanares during a formal Pentagon ceremony at a future date.
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