MOTCO policeman shines in SDDC's Surface Warrior Spotlight

By Mr. Johnathon Orrell (SDDC)December 13, 2017

MOTCO policeman shines in SDDC's Surface Warrior Spotlight
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Surface Warrior Spotlight heads west to the Bay Area of California to shine on Jay St. Germaine, the police operations captain for the 834th Transportation Battalion's Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO).

An Army retiree, St. Germaine joined SDDC in April 2017 after transferring from Ansbach, Germany. He is responsible for the day-to-day police functions on the MOTCO installation and ensures that police missions are conducted in an efficient and professional manner.

Family is important to St. Germaine. He and his wife, Olga, enjoy travelling and hiking and, on any given weekend, can be found exploring the Bay Area and beyond.

Let's turn on the Surface Warrior Spotlight and get to know Jay St. Germaine.

Q: What is your role at SDDC?

A: I'm a Police Operations Captain at Military Ocean Terminal Concord. I'm responsible for the day-to-day police functions on the installation.

Q: How do you balance your career at SDDC and your family?

A: Work-life balance is critical to personal wellbeing and overall mission success. With that being said, it is more difficult than one would imagine. Work tends to always be there and there never seems to be a completion. I personally find it hard to leave a task undone, so leaving work is tough sometimes. My wife is the one who ensures I find that balance for me.

Q: What is the best vacation spot you've been to?

A: Rome, Italy. My wife I have seen many parts of the world in our adventures, but Rome has something special. The history and culture of the city alone is alluring enough to want to come back. The best part of Rome though is the food and wine. Absolutely the best in the world in my opinion.

Q: If you could only drink one beer for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: Augustiner Brau Helles.

Q: If you had to eat only one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A: Bone in Ribeye Steak.

Q: If your house was burning down, what is the one non-living thing you would save?

A: Important documents such as passports, birth certificates and so on.

Q: Before working at SDDC, what was the most unusual or interesting job you've ever had?

A: After I retired from the Army, I worked for a while at a Christian youth camp for troubled teens. This was a very interesting and demanding job where I was interacted with troubled teens in a manner that was conducive to positive reinforcement without reverting back to my days as a Drill Sergeant.

Q: What are the top three highlights of your life?

A: Marriage to my lovely wife; the birth of all my children; and my induction into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.

Q: What did you want to be when growing up?

A: A Mechanic. When I was growing up in rural Michigan I was constantly working on cars, trucks, and other equipment out of necessity. After some time, I gained enough knowledge to think I might as well pursue it.

Q: What have you always wanted to try but never did?

A: Freefall sky diving. I have several static line jumps, but never free fall.

Q: What do you like to do on your days off?

A: My wife and I do a lot of sightseeing and exploring.

Q: What does leadership mean to you?

A: Over my career in the Army, to include Drill Sergeant Duty, I have seen excellent leaders as well as not so excellent leaders. One thing that always stands out to me about great leaders is that they are humble people who do not expect more out of their people than they would do themselves. They lead from the front while providing purpose, direction, and motivation. True leaders know that mission success requires a team effort and push their team to achieve great goals.

Q: What else do you do for fun?

A: Golfing is one of my favorite ways to pass the time when I'm not spending time with family.

Q: What is the first concert you attended?

A: Van Halen with Bachman-Turner Overdrive as the opening act.

Q: What is the first thing you would buy if you won the lottery?

A: Stocks.

Q: What is the weirdest job you've ever had?

A: Cleaning chicken coops.

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: Laziness and a lack of drive.

Q: What is your family like?

A: They are, simply put, wonderful people!

Q: What places have you lived?

A: I have lived all over the world from Alaska to Germany and loved it. I have to thank the Army for giving me the adventures.

Q: Which one of the following would you want the most -- flying cars, robot housekeepers, or moon cities?

A: Flying cars, after dealing with Bay Area Traffic.

SDDC's "Surface Warrior Spotlight" program highlights different members of the SDDC workforce every few weeks through a series of interview-style questions that focus on his or her unique background, personal stories and experiences.