WIESBADEN, Germany – Two Installation Management Command Europe professionals were honored as 2020 IMCOM Stalwart Award winners Nov. 17 during the annual Garrison Commanders Conference.
Ramona Taylor, Plans, Analysis and Integration officer for U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach, was the installation’s third winner in three years, and Dwayne Key was recognized at USAG Benelux in his role as the Army Prepositioned Stock program manager and Dülmen site manager.
The purpose of the IMCOM Stalwart Awards program is to recognize IMCOM civilian professionals who have distinguished themselves from their peers through dedicated service, initiative and drive achieving significant results that support Army and IMCOM objectives and promote the readiness and resilience of our people and installations.
“You see the accomplishments, and what we have people doing to enhance quality of life for our Soldiers and our families, it’s really amazing,” said IMCOM Commanding General Lt. Gen. Douglas M. Gabram as he opened the virtual ceremony from IMCOM’s San Antonio headquarters. “A huge congratulations to all the award winners. This isn’t an easy cut, and they’re very, very deserving.”
Taylor, was recognized for her leadership in bringing together garrison and mission partners to develop long-term strategic plans and ensure installation readiness for stationing and critical base operations support to permanent and rotational forces at USAG Ansbach.
IMCOM-Europe Director Tommy Mize recognized Taylor during the ceremony for being instrumental in the garrison's stationing working group, as well as for putting together the best installation planning board he said he’d seen in his role as region director or during his time as a deputy garrison commander.
“It’s because of Ramona, and making all of her teammates better, that Ansbach really is the 'Best Hometown in Europe,'” Mize said.
“It is a high point of 17 years of being part of an important organization that has such a wide span of responsibilities to Soldiers and their families," said Taylor, who has served at the garrison, region and headquarter levels during her time with IMCOM.
Key, a retired first sergeant and military policeman, was recognized for two different positions he held in 2020. The first as the Operations Branch chief for USAG Benelux where he contributed greatly to the garrison’s COVID-19 response, and second as the APS-2 program manager and site manager at Dülmen.
“Probably his greatest contribution was to rectify relations with the local host nation government officials there in Dülmen,” Mize said. “He really corrected some of the issues we had that prevented us from doing the things that we needed to in Dülmen. Dwayne has been absolutely masterful in that.”
Key said working in the service of others has always been his career goal, and he approaches his work with a perpetual curiosity about how to improve and get to “yes.”
“To be counted among so many other great IMCOM professionals where there’s already this immense amount of talent and capability, and to be named as one of two out of the region, it’s overwhelming and exciting,” Key said. “I’m really, really grateful for the recognition.”
Taylor and Key were cited for their leadership skills and for their abilities to work with and form teams across organizations. Both discussed how they view their roles within IMCOM in light of this recognition.
“It starts with believing in the mission, which makes it easy to champion what we do at Installation Management Command,” Taylor said. “It continues with working with and learning from dedicated professionals - both leaders and peers - who share a common work ethic and take pride in delivering quality programs and services to Soldiers and their families. Finally, it is all about loving what you do, and fortunately I have had jobs at IMCOM that have allowed me to be resourceful, creative and constructive.”
Understanding the frames of reference for partner agencies to know how to position programs and set priorities is essential, said Key of his work with everyone from engineers to local municipality leaders and federal host nation regulatory agencies. He also noted the importance of his team and of understanding the strategic and mission goals to support the organizations they work with to make sure they can perform their own missions.
“We’re always tackling the next challenge,” Key said. “It’s always thinking about how each domino effects the next domino and making sure you get them spaced right.”
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