WASHINGTON - Alicia Case, sexual assault response coordinator for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was recognized April 23, 2019, as the 2019 U.S. Army Exceptional SARC of the Year in a ceremony at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes.

Secretary of the Army Mark Esper and Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel Dailey presided over the ceremony, recognizing the contributions of professionals dedicated to sexual assault response and victim assistance. Case was selected from the 879 credentialed sexual assault response coordinators in the Department of the Army.

Reflecting on the achievement and the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Prevention (SHARP) program, Case emphasized the importance of being creative in a challenging environment.

"We can't turn on the news on a daily basis without hearing about something in the realm of sexual assault and sexual harassment," she said. "I'm hoping that this really opens peoples' eyes up so that when they come to training or when we have events that they are really open and asking questions and having that dialogue. Because that's how we get from where we used to be to now where we're having these conversations."

While Case describes herself as a behind-the-scenes person, she welcomes the attention this award brings to sexual assault and sexual harassment issues.

"I never would have thought I would win an award about something that, technically, we shouldn't even have to be doing but it's so important that the Army is focusing on it, the Corps is focusing on it, and I want everyone else to put that same energy into it," said Case.

Case has been a USACE SARC since November 2015 and is a U.S. Navy veteran with previous civilian experience with Veterans Affairs in Dallas. In her current role, she supports the Corps' Southwestern Division and Mississippi Valley Division.