FORT NOVOSEL, Ala.--Cynthia Richards, Fort Novosel supervisory HR specialist, was recently presented with the Stalwart Award on June 4 in San Antonio, Texas.
The award recognizes individuals across IMCOM who have demonstrated the highest standards of performance and significantly contributed to the command’s success and responsibilities
Lt. Gen. Omar Jones, IMCOM commanding general, recognized 15 award recipients with plaques at the Garrison Command Team Conference.
“Stalwart Award winners are IMCOM’s very best,” Jones said. “These professionals represent our commitment to finding innovative solutions and solving our most challenging problems in taking care of the Army’s Home. We look forward to harnessing these winners’ experiences and ideas to further our ability to invest in our IMCOM workforce and ensure the highest Quality of Life for the Army’s Soldiers, Families, and Civilians.”
Richards has dedicated her career as a Department of the Army Civilian serving in different HR roles from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Baumholder, Germany; Fort Bliss, Texas; and Fort Novosel, Alabama. According to Richards, the award came as quite a surprise.
“My 100% honest answer to why I received this award… I was just doing my Job!” Richards said.
As the Army transitioned to the Integrated Personnel and Pay System- Army (IPPS-A) human resources system, Richards stood up as a voice for concerns and solutions along the way.
“A few of us from Fort Novosel were sent TDY to discuss obstacles in the system, and our team was not quiet about it,” said Richards. “We continued to push the things that needed to be resolved. From 2020 until now we lead the charge to resolve these issues and accomplished the outcome we were working toward.”
Along with contributing to the evolving human resource systems, Richards made waves Army-wide during a recent developmental assignment at the Pentagon in 2023, working on projects regarding joint travel regulations including verbiage for topics such as childcare and pet entitlements.
“We worked on destigmatizing language in Army regulations,” explained Richards. “I was part of the first childcare summit ever, bringing in people from OCONUS and within congress to address issues with childcare in the Army. I truly just want to make the Army a better place for our service members and their families.
According to Richards, receiving this award meant shining a light on Fort Novosel.
“I am grateful to have received the award. It’s a direct reflection of the installation, the team I work with, and if anything, I am proud to bring the work we have done at Novosel and bringing it to the Army level. We truly have great people here and that is what I am most proud of.”
To read more about the 2023 Stalwart Award winners, head here Garrison leaders convene in San Antonio for annual conference, honor IMCOM’s best | Article | The United States Army
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