APRIL 23, 2022 – Yesterday, on Earth Day, the Defense Department announced the nine winners of the 2022 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards.
“[The awards] recognize installation teams and individuals for their accomplishments and innovative and cost-effective environmental management strategies, which support critical mission readiness here at the department,” said Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby during a briefing at the Pentagon.
Nominees for the 2022 award, he said, were involved in efforts to conserve the nation’s natural and cultural resources, protect human health, prevent or eliminate pollution at the source, and clean up hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants and munitions at DOD sites.
Kirby also said the department’s environmental efforts are focused on incorporating environmental requirements into weapons system acquisition.
“We want to continue to leverage technology to develop innovative solutions to existing and emerging human health and environmental challenges,” Kirby said.
A total of 26 nominees were evaluated for the awards by a panel of 53 judges from federal and state agencies, academia and the private sector.
The winners of the nine awards are:
- Natural Resources Conservation, Small Installation: Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
- Natural Resources Conservation, Individual/Team: Naval Air Station Pensacola Natural Resources Team, Florida.
- Environmental Quality, Non-Industrial Installation: Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.
- Environmental Quality, Individual/Team: Air Force Radioactive and Recycling Disposal Team, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
- Sustainability, Industrial Installation: Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach and Detachment Fallbrook and Norco, California.
- Environmental Restoration, Installation: Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
- Environmental Restoration, Individual/Team: Glenbrook Road Remedial Action Team, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Atlantic Division, Maryland.
- Cultural Resources Management, Large Installation: Texas Army National Guard.
- Environmental Excellence in Weapon Systems Acquisition, Individual/Team: C-130 Program Office and Support Team, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.
The Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards have honored service members and civilians across DOD for environmental efforts since 1962.
DOD NEWS