The Secretary's Award for Unity of Effort 2018

The 2018 Secretary’s Unity of Effort Award recognizes outstanding efforts in coordination, and unity of effort across the Department of Homeland Security by significantly improving efficiency and effectiveness. The award acknowledges group efforts within the Department or with external partners who assist in meeting our commitment of unity of effort.

Soft Target & Crowded Places Security Plan Team

National Programs and Protection Directorate
Washington, D.C.

Patrick J. Starke
Todd B. Klessman
Kirby L. Wedekind

For leadership and exceptional teamwork in cataloguing and developing the Department of Homeland Security Soft Target and Crowded Places Security Plan, to support improved security of soft targets and crowded places.

U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen

United States Coast Guard
Borinquen, Puerto Rico

Keith A. Overstreet
Toby L. Holdridge
Lawrence E. Tormey

For teamwork and dedication in response to Hurricane Maria, ensuring the safety of Coast Guard personnel and families, and the citizens of Puerto Rico; hosting and supporting various agencies at the Air Station.

Border Situational Awareness Team

Science and Technology Directorate
Washington, D.C.

Shawn McDonald
Chris D. Pietrzak
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
John B. Mennell
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Michael E. Aponte
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Christopher L. Westbrook
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Jeffrey W. Davies
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Michael D. Bartels
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Joe R. Garcia
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Dustin Knudsen
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Brent C. Roller
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
James A. Shively
United States Secret Service

For teamwork and collaboration establishing and deploying the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) to enhance security at national and border security events and save lives during emergency activities.

TSA No-Fly Coordination and Secure Flight Team

Transportation Security Administration
Washington, D.C.

For coordination and collaboration in direct support of operations involving subjects on the No-Fly list, facilitating ongoing counterterrorism investigations, repatriation, and arrest operations.

First Responder Fentanyl Exposure Team

Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office
Washington, D.C.

Mark Kirk
Lee Pietrangelo
Eric Chaney
Samuel Smith
Donna Johnson
Linda Holified-Kennedy
Management Directorate
Latousha Leslie
Management Directorate
Reginald Brown
Management Directorate
Margarita Flynn
Management Directorate
Robert Feliciano
Management Directorate
Karl Anderson
Management Directorate
Camille Carraway
Management Directorate

For convening a national-level meeting to address the mounting concerns of the two million strong national first responder community, in response to the growing Fentanyl epidemic.

Huntville Interagency Cargo Team

Transportation Security Administration
Huntville, Alabama

Kevin Fitzgerald
Jeffrey Frazier
Stephen Humphrey
Lauren Head
Samuel Bucy
Carley Hamel
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Jeffrey Watkins
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Jason Eidson
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Brian Criste
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Jesse Winkel
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Brett Shipman
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Dustyn Swendsen
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Axel Pierson
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Kader Eddir
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

For cooperation and communication in preventing and flagging an individual from boarding an international flight with highly concentrated sulfuric acid, intended harm family members, and a later attempt to enter the United States at the border.

USCIS Personnel Security Division FEMA Adjudication Team

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Burlington, Vermont

MaryBeth M. LeFevre
Natalie J. Levasseur
Daniel M. Dixon
Tina M. White
Ryan K. Colman
Rex A. Hays

In recognition of the extraordinary accomplishment of making over 1600 adjudicative determinations within two months, and expeditiously hiring applicants to meet the challenges of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

Surge Capacity Force Team

Federal Emergency Management Agency
Washington, D.C.

Jeffrey Coble
Deborah Hess
David Nunley
Jamilah Rattler
Kate Stukbauer
Ronald Wlls
Lindsey Williams
Stacey Rogers
Ashley McClain
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers
Ronald B. Coleman
U.S. Coast Guard
Matthew Evans
Management Directorate
Cheryl Broadus
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Michael Kimlick
Transportation Security Administration
Diana Lynch
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Christine L. Scott
U.S. Secret Service
Veronica Nieves
U.S. Secret Service
Jacques Singleton
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

For demonstrating outstanding leadership in managing the DHS Surge Capacity Force Program, particularly during the unprecedented 2017 Hurricane Season.

DHS Panama Engagement Team

United States Coast Guard
Panama City, PANAMA

In recognition of the joint DHS and Panama initiatives to address border security vulnerabilities that pose threats via air, land and sea.

USCG HITRON Logistics Division

United States Coast Guard
Washington, D.C.

Jeffrey C. Jurin
Brian W. Seekatz
Robert L. Holden
Richard A. Pina
Travis A. Francisco
William P. Soltesz
Ryan H. Lilkendey
Michael R. Best
High T. Dailey
Brandon B. Caskey

In recognition of extraordinary collaboration in establishing a revolutionary process in deploying aircraft, crews, and technicians to Central America, and USCG cutters and allied warships in the Caribbean and Western Pacific.

CBP Border Wall Acquisition & Program Management Team

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Washington, D.C.

Shannon McCormick
Anthony Harvin
Kiesha Benford
John Callahan
Massimiliano Allegretta
Kerri Bishop
Michael Germinario
Eric Eldridge
Abel Anderson
Dawn Wharrie
Paul Enriquez
Jodi Silcox
Andrew Lieberman
Tobin Ruff

For swiftly convening a multi-disciplinary team to develop the strategy for this complex, fast-paced and high-visibility project to build a wall on our southwest border to gain and maintain operational control of the border.

NATIVE Operation Rocky Top Team

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Sells, Arizona

Matthew Hall
Sydney Moore
Malachi Spencer
Eric Ford
Julia Herrera
Brian Gobert
Kristopher Convissar
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Victor J. Fernandez
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Travis Baltosser
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Leonard Henry
TOPD - Sells, AZ
Sarah Houston
TOPD - Sells, AZ
Adam Rossi
U.S. Department of Justice

For implementing Operation Rocky Top to investigate the drug trafficking network of a cartel in the Arizona area, resulting in the reduction of smuggling sites and 477 indictments.

Women in Law Enforcement Hiring Event Planning Team

Management Directorate
Washington, D.C.

In recognition of extraordinary teamwork in designing, planning, and implementing a department-wide Women in Law Enforcement hiring event that epitomizes a successful unity of effort across DHS.