DIA Civilian Receives Top Artillery Award

By Lt. Col. Raul BenitezApril 23, 2010

DIA Civilian Receives Top Artillery Award
Mr. Steven Hancock, a missile intelligence officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC) was inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara during a ceremony at MSIC's headquarters at Redstone A... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

In recognition of his years of dedicated service to Army air and missile defense, Mr. Steven Hancock, a missile intelligence officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC) was afforded a unique honor recently when he was inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara during a ceremony at MSIC's headquarters at Redstone Arsenal, AL.

The ceremony was officiated by two intelligence leaders from the Army's 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC), Fort Shafter, Hawaii, with the Director and Deputy Director of MSIC in attendance. On behalf of the 94th AAMDC Commanding General, Brig Gen Jeffery Underhill, Lt. Col. Raul Benitez, Deputy G2, and Sgt Maj Pete Carrion, G2 Sergeant Major, presented Mr. Hancock with the distinctive St. Barbara medal signifying his noteworthy contributions to air and missile defense in the Pacific area of operations.

"Mr. Hancock has become an integral part of our intelligence team in the 94th," said Lt Col Benitez. "He shares an unparalleled level of subject matter expertise with us on a daily basis which makes our team of analysts a powerful contributor to the success of the 94th as well as US Pacific Command."

Mr. Hancock has been a stalwart of the 94th AAMDC since it stood up in 2005. He routinely deploys to Korea in support of major exercises working alongside Soldiers and Airmen to counter and defeat the North Korean ballistic missile threat. He provides the command a unique ability to leverage national agencies and databases to better analyze ballistic missile threats.

"Steve goes above and beyond for us on a daily basis," added Lt Col Benitez. "He has a unique dedication to his craft and works tirelessly to make us better. He epitomizes the term 'support to the warfighter' and I am proud to present this great honor to someone we consider part of our warfighting team."

St. Barbara is the patron saint of the artillery and air defense artillery corps. Each year, select military and civilian personnel are nominated and inducted into the Order of St. Barbara during the St. Barbara Ball in recognition of a career of service and accomplishment to artillery or air defense.