ARLINGTON, Va. – The Army Engineer Association and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers honored seven individuals who have made significant contributions to the Engineer Regiment at a ceremony Friday during the annual Castle Ball in Washington, D.C.

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proud to recognize the outstanding contributions and achievements of these individuals,” said Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, 55th Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of USACE. “Their dedication and service embody the values ​​and mission of the organization.”

Major General (ret.) Bryan Watson, AEA President and host of the event, presented the Sapper and Miner Award of Distinction to Col. (ret.) Dan Grey and Col. (ret.) James Shumway.

The award recognizes a lifetime service award by a member of the Engineer Regiment (military or civilian) and is given to individuals who have contributed to the Army’s mobility, countermobility, survivability, general engineering, or geospatial engineer operations missions.

Gray served as an engineer officer for nearly 30 years and was honored not only for his time of service but also for his continued support of the Regiment after his retirement, where he served as an AEA board member and committee chair for more than a decade.

Shumway served in the Engineer Regiment for nearly 30 years and was honored for his influence on thousands of engineer soldiers and leaders during his service.

The awards ceremony also included the induction of two new members into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters Gallery of Distinguished Civilians. The gallery was established in 1955 to honor civilians who have made exceptional contributions to the USACE.

Spellmon was honored to welcome Mr. Bob Slockbower and Mr. Ed Hecker to the gallery.

Slockbower, a civil engineer with 46 years of federal service, was honored for a career that included two deployments to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as serving as director of military programs at headquarters and program director for the Southwest Division. During his tenure, Slockbower developed and directed a professional development program for engineers and scientists that is still in use today.

Hecker served the federal government for 44 years and was instrumental in building USACE’s reputation as FEMA’s disaster response organization. Hecker’s expertise in emergency operations and stakeholder engagement has shaped the organization’s response to emergencies. Throughout his career, Hecker led reforms across USACE and developed new training programs, organizational exercises and policies to address emerging global threats.

The evening ceremony culminated in the presentation of the Gold de Fleury Medals, the Engineer Regiment’s most prestigious award, to three individuals: Sergeant 1st Class Christopher A. Celiz, former USACE Command Sergeant Major, retired Bradley Houston, and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael L. Connor.

Celiz, a combat engineer, posthumously received the Gold de Fleury Medal for his exemplary service and profound impact on the U.S. Army and the Engineer Regiment from 2007 to 2018. Celiz was killed in Afghanistan while protecting a MEDEVAC helicopter under heavy enemy fire and posthumously received the Medal of Honor. His family was presented the de Fleury Medal in a separate ceremony earlier this year.

Houston was presented with the medal by the 54th Chief of Engineers and former Commanding General of the USACE, Lieutenant General (ret.) Todd T. Semonite, for his exemplary service to the Engineer Regiment.

Connor was presented the medal by Spellmon for his decades of service to the public and commitment to working with federal government partners, making him an invaluable addition to the USACE team.

ABOUT THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides critical public engineering services in peacetime and wartime to strengthen our nation’s security, grow the economy, and reduce disaster risks. For more information, visit www.usace.army.mil.

AWARD INFORMATION

For more information about the individual awards, please visit:

Sapper and Minor Distinction – https://armyengineer.com/sapper-and-minor-distinction-award/

· Gallery of Distinguished Civilians – https://youtu.be/n8ZqTd6jA5w

· de Fleury Medal – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJUC1rxR174