Sustainers receive Excellence in Federal Government Awards

By Sgt. Jon HeinrichMay 25, 2017

Sustainers receive Excellence in Federal Government Awards
Maj. Joaquin M. Meno, the chief of officer management branch for U.S. Army Pacific, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Courtney V. Tyus, the future operations mobility officer with 8th Theater Sustainment Command, were awarded the Excellence in Federal Gove... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - The Excellence in Federal Government Awards Program is designed to honor service members and federal employees for their leadership in the military and their communities.

Maj. Joaquin M. Meno, the chief of officer management branch for U.S. Army Pacific and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Courtney V. Tyus, the future operations mobility officer with 8th Theater Sustainment Command, recently received the award during the 61st Annual Excellence in Federal Awards May 5 at the Officer's Club on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Meno was awarded for Team Excellence when he worked in the 8th TSC's Commander's Initiative Group while Tyus was awarded for Exceptional Community Service.

Meno received his award for planning, developing and executing the Young Alaka'i Leadership Development Program which helped train and educate 30 junior leaders, exposing them to critical thinking and strategic level discussions with institutions of higher learning and regional, national and international organizations.

While working with YALDP, Meno assisted with three iterations of educational instruction which consisted of multi-national partner engagements and strategic broadening seminars in the span of three weeks.

"It's great to know that the whole team received the recognition because it was the collaboration amongst all involved that made it a success," Meno said.

Tyus received his award for accumulating more than 400 hours of volunteer work for the Life Work Baptist Fellowship Group in Vicenza, Italy, improving the quality of life for 58 personnel and four families with food, blankets, clothing and life counseling.

Tyus also started the "Feed the Hungry" program, organizing volunteers to help feed more than 680 personnel in 2016 and he also performed duties as community outreach, shift manager, food preparation, serving line worker, clothing turn-in and clothing washer for his organization.

Meno said that future recipients of the award should give their best in any task or team project they are assigned and to always remain humble.

"I want to thank all the people that have ever worked in the 8th TSC CIG from the beginning until the end," Meno said. "I learned so much from everyone and more importantly I learned some valuable ways to create things from scratch and see them through."