Fort Meade scores three-peat in Army Communities of Excellence Program

By Lisa R. RhodesMay 6, 2009

Fort Meade scores second in Army Communities of Excellence Program for third year
Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli (left) presents Fort Meade Installation Commander Col. Daniel L. Thomas with a check representing Fort Meade¹s winnings as a Silver Winner in the 2008 Army Communities of Excellence Program during a cerem... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Meade, Md. - First place would have been nice, but second will do just fine.

That's the sentiment Fort Meade leaders expressed regarding the installation's second-place finish in the 25th annual Army Communities of Excellence Program. This is the third consecutive year the installation has won second place. Fort Meade, which will receive a $500,000 cash award, was recognized along with the competition's other winners in a ceremony Tuesday at the Pentagon. "It is a tremendous accomplishment that reflects the high quality of the entire community," said Installation Commander Daniel L. Thomas before the ceremony.

The final placing in the ACOE competition is not the goal, Thomas said. "It is the process and the competition itself, to make ourselves a better community and provider to service members, retirees and civilians thatA,A1s important," Thomas said. "If the competition makes Fort Meade better, then everyone is a winner, regardless of where we place."

U.S. Army Garrison Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia took first place as the Gold Winner with a prize of $1 million. This is the fourth time the installation placed first, having also won in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The ACOE awards are presented each year to recognize performance excellence in installation management by Army garrisons.

The program recognizes continuous business process improvements, groundbreaking initiatives and devotion to efficiency, effectiveness and customer care in providing support to Soldiers, families, retirees and civilian employees who work, live, train and play on Army installations.

To evaluate competing installations, the ACOE program uses the Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. Participants are judged against this common standard and not each other.

During the ceremony, Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, Army vice chief of staff, praised competitors for their dedication to Soldiers and families. "Believe me, we cannot do what we do without your support," he said. "You have set a high standard. Keep up the good work. Army Strong."

Along with Fort Meade, Fort Bragg, N.C., also won second place as a Silver Winner and will receive a $500,000 prize. Three installations placed third as Bronze Winners: USAG Fort Knox, Ky., USAG Daegu in Korea and USAG Camp Humphreys in Korea. Each will receive $250,000. All monetary awards will be given in fiscal year 2010.

"To be named second best installation in the United States Army is quite an honor, and quite a credit to the entire garrison staff," said Fort Meade's Deputy Installation Commander John Moeller. "A first-place finish would have been even better, but second place is still an honor."

About 60 Fort Meade garrison employees traveled by bus to the Pentagon for the ceremony. Each winning installation received an oversized cardboard check, a trophy and commemorative flag.

As in previous years, the installation's ACOE competition application package was prepared by the Plans, Analysis and Integration Office. Bernadette Baldeo, director of PAIO, said she was "very excited," but "a little bit disappointed" about the second-place finish. "We really, really, really wanted to win first place," she said.

PAIO submitted Fort Meade's application package last August, and ACOE examiners conducted an onsite visit in November. The installation received the good news last week.

This year's competition differed from past contests in that two installations were selected as second-place winners, while three third-place winners were selected.

A new prize, "Most Improved," was awarded to USAG Schinnen, Europe; Fort Campbell, Ky.; and Fort McCoy, Wis. Each will receive a $200,000 cash award. Fort Meade also took second place in 2007 and 2008, each time winning a $1 million cash prize.

The competition requires that the prize money only be used for community projects. The installation used its 2007 winnings to provide new computers for the Medal of Honor Memorial Library, purchase a mobile skate park and upgrade facilities at McGill Training Center, among other projects. Moeller of last year's prize money will be spent to upgrade and improve Child, Youth & School Services' sports fields. Discussions have not yet been held on how this yearA,A1s prize money will be used, he said.