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Fort Leavenworth mechanical engineer, program analyst named top 2024 professionals

By Prudence Siebert-Fort Leavenworth Lamp EditorJanuary 30, 2025

Thomas Starr, Department of Public Works mechanical engineer, has been named the 2024 Fort Leavenworth Garrison Professional of the Year, and Audrey Crook, DPW program analyst, has been named the 2024 Fort Leavenworth Garrison Supply Discipline...
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Thomas Starr, Department of Public Works mechanical engineer, has been named the 2024 Fort Leavenworth Garrison Professional of the Year, and Audrey Crook, DPW program analyst, has been named the 2024 Fort Leavenworth Garrison Supply Discipline Professional of the Year. Their portraits are displayed on a recognition board in Garrison Headquarters at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Department of the Army photos by Stephanie Mahone/Fort Leavenworth Garrison Public Affairs Office (Photo Credit: Department of the Army photos by Stephanie Mahone/Fort Leavenworth Garrison Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Leavenworth Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Vanessa Sun and Fort Leavenworth Garrison Commander Col. Duane Mosier congratulate Audrey Crook, Directorate of Public Works program analyst, on being named the Fort Leavenworth Garrison Supply...
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Fort Leavenworth Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Vanessa Sun and Fort Leavenworth Garrison Commander Col. Duane Mosier congratulate Audrey Crook, Directorate of Public Works program analyst, on being named the Fort Leavenworth Garrison Supply Discipline Professional of the Year and present her with the Department of the Army Civilian Service Commendation Medal during the Garrison Town Hall Meeting Jan. 22, 2025, at the Frontier Conference Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Photo by Sean Bergosh/Fort Leavenworth Garrison Public Affairs Office (Photo Credit: Photo by Sean Bergosh/Fort Leavenworth Garrison Public Affairs Office) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS — Thomas Starr, mechanical engineer in the Design Branch of the Directorate of Public Works, has been named the 2024 Fort Leavenworth Garrison Professional of the Year, and Audrey Crook, program analyst in the Business Operations and Integration Division of DPW, has been named the 2024 Fort Leavenworth Garrison Supply Discipline Professional of the Year.

2024 Garrison Professional of the Year

Starr was initially recognized as the first quarter Professional of the Quarter. Cassie Blackard, DPW, was recognized as the second-quarter professional; Niyonda Tillman, Equal Employment Opportunity, as the third-quarter professional; and Michelle Blackwell, 2023 Garrison Supply Discipline Professional of the Year, was the fourth-quarter professional.

Starr is currently deployed with his Kansas Air National Guard unit, the 190th Air Refueling Wing Maintenance Group, in which he serves as a senior master sergeant. After eight years on active duty in the Air Force, Starr obtained his mechanical engineering degree at Arizona State University. He then joined an engineering firm where he gained HVAC system experience.

Storm Reynolds, chief of the Engineering Division Design Branch, DPW, nominated Starr for the Garrison recognition for his work that has improved post facilities and addressed repair issues.

“He superbly designed the HVAC modifications for the renovated Harney Gym locker and reception areas. He also designed the HVAC repairs to buildings 48 and 391,” Reynolds said. “He coordinates and reviews all commissioning efforts to bring new HVAC-related systems online.”

In the nomination, Reynolds said Starr’s initiative, strong technical knowledge and total commitment to excellence have assisted with the repair of critical facilities across the installation.

“During the multi-million-dollar HVAC repair project at the Lewis and Clark Center, mold growth developed on the wood surfaces in Eisenhower Auditorium as a result of issues with the supply air. The contractor claimed that they were not at fault and refused to get rid of the mold, without extra pay. Thomas, on own initiative, independently placed multiple temperature and humidity sensors throughout the auditorium, which then generated data that he was able to analyze and present,” Reynolds explained in the nomination. “The data was irrefutable and clearly indicated that the contractor was responsible due to their error. This forced the contractor to clean up all of the mold and to correct the problem with the supply air at no additional cost to the government.”

Reynolds also cited Starr’s work as project manager for the $34 million HVAC repair project at the Military Corrections Complex as another reason to recognize him.

“Thomas discovered a hot water piping corrosion issue and analyzed the impact of the corrosion on the system. He then coordinated with multiple chemical engineering subject matter experts and concluded that all the HVAC system pipes must be replaced. He developed the scope and worked a contract modification, which will extend the life of the systems by approximately 25 years. His actions significantly saved the government money by not having to do re-work to repair systems that were just repaired.”

Reynolds said Starr also helped address an HVAC issue at the Midwest Joint Regional Correctional Facility before it became a more difficult problem, and when he was recognized for his efforts, he gave much of the credit to others.

“Thomas is the epitome of a professional, and we are so much better because he is on our team,” Reynolds said.

2024 Garrison Supply Discipline Professional of the Year

Crook was recognized with the Department of the Army Civilian Service Commendation Medal for her selection as the Supply Discipline Professional of the Year by the Garrison Command Team during the Garrison Town Hall Jan. 22 at the Frontier Conference Center.

The Garrison Supply Excellence Award program acknowledges the contributions of employees who demonstrate excellence in unit-level, and directly support, supply programs.

“(The program is) another way to recognize the employees that manage out inventories and monies, something most people take for granted while operating through their every days,” said Garrison Human Resources Workforce Development Specialist Josh Altice.

“Accountability deals with the obligation to keep records of property, documents or funds, such as identification data, gains, losses, dues-in, dues-out, and balances on hand or in use,” Altice explained. “All property, except real property, material purchased with the Army Purchase Card, and fabricated property, acquired in any manner, is processed through and accounted for on a stock record account before issue. All property, except real property, is classified for property accountability purposes as nonexpendable and controlled, expendable or durable.”

Directorates can nominate employees for the Garrison Supply Excellence Awardee of the Quarter at the end of each quarter throughout the fiscal year. Supervisors across Garrison and one from the Logistics Readiness Center vote on the nominations to name the quarterly awardees.

Crook, who was nominated by Anthony Udeli, DPW management and program analyst, was selected as the fourth-quarter employee.

Fort Leavenworth Fire Department Capt. Joshua Carroll, Directorate of Emergency Services, was selected as the first-quarter supply excellence employee; Kristina Russell, Directorate of Human Resources, was named the second-quarter employee; and FLFD Lt. Jeffrey Cheney, DES, was selected as the third-quarter employee.

Crooks said her main responsibilities are creating work orders, purchase requisitions and credit card purchase requests. She said work orders or purchase requisitions for any work done on Fort Leavenworth runs through her division.

Crook attributed work days running smoothly to her co-workers.

“We have a fantastic team with great leadership, and we work very well with each other,” she said. “Towards the end of the fiscal year, my job can get busier due to having to transfer things over to the new fiscal year, or last-minute projects when money has become available, but all in all, like I said earlier, we all do our part to take on different tasks to get the job done and help each other if needed.”

Udeli said that since Crook’s arrival to DPW in March 2024, she has exceeded expectations.

“In the short time she’s been working at DPW, her dedication, hard work and professionalism have made an incredible impact to her colleagues and the organization.”

Udeli noted in his nomination for Crook that after she completed extensive Government Purchase Card training, she’d go on to purchase nearly $250,000 in goods and services to support all divisions in DPW, but that she sought out supplemental training before initiating any purchases.

“In doing so, she has created and continued to develop a positive working relationship with the Garrison Resource Management team on behalf of the DPW cardholder program. She has relayed accurate and relevant information to other team members and higher authority. She has also assisted other team members with technical issues related to Microsoft Office and the (General Fund Enterprise Business System) portal,” Udeli wrote in the nomination. “Despite being tasked additional duties, Audrey (has) maintained a positive attitude with how she goes about her work and has set a great example for others to emulate. Her willingness to learn and succeed has also fostered great trust outside the directorate.”

Crook has been at Fort Leavenworth since November 2019. Prior to her job at DPW, she was an inmate services clerk at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks. She said the training she received from her supervisor and co-workers helped prepare her for her current job.

“When I first started, everyone was very helpful with answering any questions I had,” she said. “They helped guide me through the training I had to complete in order to do my job.”

Udeli said Crook inherited several GPC actions, made more challenging when the previous card holder who initiated the purchases departed.

“She worked diligently to understand the issues related to the actions and competently corrected any actions that were in error,” Udeli noted in the nomination. “Her execution in processing purchases quickly and accurately has greatly minimized the number of delays for the end user.”

Udeli said Crook’s quick understanding of the GPC process was crucial to obligations being fulfilled. He said DPW’s supply program is one of the most complicated in Garrison, involving grounds maintenance, facility repairs, general officer furnishings and administrative supply actions. He noted that she maintained impeccable GPC records and tracking logs, and that she also took on additional responsibility for making GPC purchases for the maintenance shops when they were short staffed.

“Mrs. Crook’s contributions have not only enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations but have also inspired her colleagues to strive for excellence. Her dedication and hard work are a testament to her character and make her a valuable asset to our team,” Udeli said. “She is a prime example that leadership is not just an assumed title, but for anyone who can inspire and influence people by providing purpose, direction and motivation.”