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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Indian Health Service Director's Awards

2015 - 2016 Awardees

Awards Ceremony Booklet [PDF - 656 KB]

Opening Ceremony - Traditional Blessing

Opening Ceremony - Traditional Blessing - Clayton Old Elk (HQ)

Opening Ceremony - Director's Opening Remarks

Opening Ceremony - Director's Opening Remarks - RADM Michael Weahkee (HQ)
Opening Ceremony - Director's Opening Remarks - RADM Michael Weahkee (HQ)

2015 HHS Green Champion Award - Sustainable Design & Facilities category

2015 HHS Green Champion Award - Sustainable Design & Facilities category - CDR Frank Chua on behalf of the Southern California Youth Regional Treatment Center Project Team (California)
2015 HHS Green Champion Award - Sustainable Design & Facilities category - CDR Frank Chua on behalf of the Southern California Youth Regional Treatment Center Project Team (California)

2015 HHS Green Champion Award - Team

2015 HHS Green Champion Award - Team - CDR Eric Hanssen on behalf of ANTHC Rural Energy Initiative (Alaska)
2015 HHS Green Champion Award - Team - Darren Ausdemore on behalf of Phoenix Area Engineers (Phoenix)

2016 HHS Green Champion Award - Energy & Fleet Management category

2016 HHS Green Champion Award - Energy & Fleet Management category - Craig Wood on behalf of Kotzebue Hospital Wind-to-Heat Energy Project (Alaska)

2015 Special Recognition National Council Leadership Award

2015 Special Recognition National Council Leadership Award - CAPT Traci Patten, National Pharmacy Council (Oklahoma)

2015 Special Recognition Tribal Leadership/Partnership Award

2015 Special Recognition Tribal Leadership/Partnership Award - Melanie Fourkiller on behalf of Tribal Co-Chair, Chief Lynn Malerba - CSC Workgroup (Oklahoma)

2015 Special Recognition Urban Leadership/Partnership Award

2015 Special Recognition Urban Leadership/Partnership Award - Donna Keeler, Past President NCUIH

2015 Special Recognition Award

2015 Special Recognition Award - RADM Kevin Meeks (HQ)

2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual

2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual - John Sickman (Alaska)
2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual - Michael Robertson (Alaska)
2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual - Andrew Chicharello, Sr. (Albuquerque)
2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual - Eileen Buckman (Billings)
2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual - Ronald Baron (HQ)
2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual - Wendy Dunson (Oklahoma)
2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual - Clinton E. Kittrell (Portland)

2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Team

2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - Leslie White on behalf of OIT Laboratory Informatics Team (HQ)
2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - Valerie Barker on behalf of GIMC Business Office Patient Benefit Coordinator Team (Navajo)
2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - LCDR Ronnie Rael on behalf of GIMC ER Clinical Pharmacists (Navajo)
2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - LCDR Jesse Goodman on behalf of Lawton Indian Hospital IMPRESS Team (Oklahoma)
2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - Shannon Carlton on behalf of Chemawa Integrated Behavioral Health Primary Care Team (Portland)
2015 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - Vicki Tovey on behalf of Community Health - Benewah Medical and Wellness Center, Coeur d'Alene Tribe (Portland)

Commissioned Corps Meritorious Service Medal

Commissioned Corps Meritorious Service Medal - CDR Jeffrey Lawrence (Navajo)

Commissioned Corps Oustanding Service Medal

Commissioned Corps Oustanding Service Medal - RADM Kevin Meeks (HQ)
Commissioned Corps Oustanding Service Medal - RADM Kevin Meeks (HQ)
Commissioned Corps Oustanding Service Medal - LCDR Velia Turknett (Alaska)
Commissioned Corps Oustanding Service Medal - LCDR Seneca Smith (Oklahoma)

2015 Director's Award - Individual

2015 Director's Award - Individual - Philip Hofstetter (Alaska)
2015 Director's Award - Individual - CDR Sara Doran-Atchison (Alaska)
2015 Director's Award - Individual - CAPT Brian E. Hroch (Albuquerque)
2015 Director's Award - Individual - Christopher Poole (Bemidji)
2015 Director's Award - Individual - Lanelle VonFedlt on behalf of CDR Larron Dolence (Billings)
2015 Director's Award - Individual - Destinie Doney (Billings)
2015 Director's Award - Individual - Christine Brennan (California)
2015 Director's Award - Individual - Christsopher Jones (HQ)
2015 Director's Award - Individual - Lindsay King (Nashville)
2015 Director's Award - Individual - LCDR Ronnie Rael on behalf of LCDR Christina Andrade (Navajo)
2015 Director's Award - Individual - Cara Thompson (Oklahoma)
2015 Director's Award - Individual - George J. Donati (Navajo)
2015 Director's Award - Individual - Tyler C. Goddard (Phoenix)
2015 Director's Award - Individual - Mary Morphet-Brown (Portland)

2015 Director's Award - Team

2015 Director's Award - Team - CDR Eric Hanssen on behalf of Rural Energy Initiative (Alaska)
2015 Director's Award - Team - Heather Bailey on behalf of Norton Sound Health Corporation Pharmacy Dept (Alaska)
2015 Director's Award - Team - Dave Panana on behalf of KPHC-SDHC Staff (Albuquerque)
2015 Director's Award - Team - Lolita Brinkley-Nunn on behalf of California Area Office (California)
2015 Director's Award - Team - CDR Joy Lee on behalf of Cheyenne River Health Center (Great Plains)
2015 Director's Award - Team - Tracy Schroeder on behalf of Quentin N. Burdick Memorial Health Care Facility (Great Plains)
2015 Director's Award - Team - Sydney Ketcher on behalf of Nashville Area HR Team (Nashville)
2015 Director's Award - Team - CAPT Don Williams on behalf of Securing Tohono O'odham Project (STOP) (Tucson)
2015 Director's Award - Team - Gary M. Russell-King on behalf of Navajo Area Health Information Management Position Description Workgroup (Navajo)
2015 Director's Award - Team - Tina Evans on behalf of Active Shooter Planning Team (Phoenix)
2015 Director's Award - Team - Michelle Rovai on behalf of Western Oregon Service Unit Pharmacy Dept (Portland)

2015 Director's Award - Individual

2015 Director's Award - Individual - Sean Dooley (HQ)

2015 & 2016 Special Recognition Tribal Partnership Award

2015 & 2016 Special Recognition Tribal Partnership Award - Dr. Charles W. Grim (HQ)

2016 Special Recognition Award

2016 Special Recognition Award - Carmen Hardin on behalf of Ann Bullock, Federal Co-Chair - Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee (HQ)
2016 Special Recognition Award - Carmen Hardin & Connie Barker - Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee
2016 Special Recognition Award - Connie Barker, Tribal Co-Chair - Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee
2016 Special Recognition Award - Connie Barker, Tribal Co-Chair - Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee
2016 Special Recognition Award - Emmalani Longenecker (HQ)
2016 Special Recognition Award - Julie Czajkowski (HQ)
2016 Special Recognition Award - Mona Lateyice-Owaleon (Albuquerque)
2016 Special Recognition Award - Robert Harry (Phoenix)
2016 Special Recognition Award - Robert Harry (Phoenix)
2016 Special Recognition Award - CAPT Michael Toedt on behalf of the Great Plains Area Deployment Team (HQ)

2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual

2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual - Nina Black Hoop (Billings)
2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual - Mark A. Merrick, Jr. (Great Plains)
2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual - Lorenze Lancaster (HQ)
2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual - Steven Whitehorn (HQ)
2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual - Susan Geary (Oklahoma)
2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Individual - Paula Baeza (Oklahoma)

2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Team

2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - LCDR Sarah S. Pak on behalf of Taos Picuris Indian Health Center (Albuquerque)
2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - Lanelle VonFedlt on behalf of WRSU PRC Coordination and Improvement Team (Billings)
2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - Marvin Kee on behalf of Office of Direct Service and Contracting Tribes (HQ)
2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - Susan Rose on behalf of Clinton Service Unit Wound Care Team (Oklahoma)
2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - Jennifer Pham on behalf of Oklahoma City Indian Clinic Pharmacy (Oklahoma)
2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - Romelia Kassanavoid on behalf of Lawton Indian Hospital Benefits Coordinators (Oklahoma)
2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - Lahoma Schultz on behalf of Clinton Service Unit Behavioral Health Team (Oklahoma)
2016 Director's Customer Service Award - Team - Vincent Ruiz on behalf of Dept of Acquisition Management SharePoint Launch and Process Improvement Team (Phoenix)

2015 Director's Award - Individual

2015 Director's Award - Individual - LCDR Danica Brown (Oklahoma)

2015 Director's Award - Team

2015 Director's Award - Team - Donna Juan on behalf of Tucson Area Child Passenger Safety Technicians (Tucson)

Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal

Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - CAPT Michael Toedt (HQ)
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - CDR Mark Rives (HQ)
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - LCDR Jessica Damon (Oklahoma)
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - CDR Damion Killsback (HQ)
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - CDR Verna Kuka (Great Plains)
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - LCDR Amit K. Patel (Phoenix)
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - CAPT Amy Rubin (Oklahoma)
Commissioned Corps Outstanding Service Medal - CDR Alan Tupponce (Phoenix)

2016 Director's Award - Individual

2016 Director's Award - Individual - Dr. Katherine Gottlieb (Alaska)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Cecilia E. Chao (Albuquerque)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Lois K. Schumacher (Albuquerque)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Tammy King (Bemidji)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Andy Hazen (Bemidji)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Tristan Tex Goodluck (Billings)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Sally J. Hooke (Billings)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Denise O'Gorman (California)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Camilla Widvey (Great Plains)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - CDR Phil Jaquith (Great Plains)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Linda M. Suess (Great Plains)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Bruce Finke (Nashville)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Edie Jackson (Nashville)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Aimee Reinhard (Navajo)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - CDR Chandima B. Deegala (Navajo)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Douglas Accountius (Navajo)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Dawn Ready (Oklahoma)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - CDR Joe Bryant (Oklahoma)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - LCDR Jessica Steinert (Oklahoma)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Ron Carrell (Oklahoma)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - CAPT Elizabeth Clark (Phoenix)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Philippe Champagne (Portland)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - Tama Carpen (Portland)
2016 Director's Award - Individual - LT Derek Hancey (Portland)

2016 Director's Award - Team

2016 Director's Award - Team - CDR Kara A. King on behalf of Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (Alaska)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Helen Chavez on behalf of Mescalero Service Unit (Albuquerque)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Torrey Darkenwald on behalf of Northern Cheyenne Service Unit Dental Department (Billings)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Donald Brafford on behalf of OEHE Emergency Drought Response Team (California)

2015 Director's Award - Team

2015 Director's Award - Team - Navajo Nation Vice-President, Jonathan Nez on behalf of Communities of Hope (Navajo)

2016 Director's Award - Team

2016 Director's Award - Team - Valerie Canfield on behalf of Redding District Office (California)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Terrence Gates on behalf of Great Plains Clinical Engineering Services Program (Great Plains)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Tim Wildcat on behalf of DEHS Team - Wagner Salmonella Outbreak Response (Great Plains)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Jeffrey McCollum on behalf of IHS Influenza Policy Working Group (HQ)
2016 Director's Award - Team - LCDR Andrea Scott on behalf of Office of Information Technology Area Site Review Program Team (HQ)
2016 Director's Award - Team - CDR Carla Stearle on behalf of IHS OIT Terminology Team (HQ)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Ervin King on behalf of GIMC Facilities Management Branch (Navajo)
2016 Director's Award - Team - LT Jennifer Manning on behalf of SRSU Scheduling GUI Implementation Team (Navajo)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Angie Clark on behalf of Northern Navajo Medical Center - Accounts Receivable (Navajo)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Mariva J. Plummer on behalf of Four Corners Regional Health Center Leadership Team (Navajo)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Rebecca Geiger on behalf of Oklahoma City Area Hepatitis C CURE Project (Oklahoma)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Summer Welcher-Duke on behalf of Oklahoma City Indian Clinic Behavioral Health Team (Oklahoma)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Thomas Riordan on behalf of Lawton Indian Hospital - BCMA Implementation Team (Oklahoma)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Amber L. Perry on behalf of Hopi Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Team (Phoenix)
2016 Director's Award - Team - CAPT Jeffrey D. Richardson on behalf of San Carlos Apache Healthcare Center Rehabilitation Department (Phoenix)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Lee Zahir on behalf of Powwow Sweat - BMWC REACH Program (Portland)
2016 Director's Award - Team - Lisa Majewski on behalf of Warm Springs Service Unit - Medical Department (Portland)

Extraordinary Length of Service - 46 years

Extraordinary Length of Service - 46 years - Sarah Morgan (Navajo)
Extraordinary Length of Service - 46 years - Rozina Taylor (Tucson)

Luana Reyes Leadership Award

Luana Reyes Leadership Award - RADM Weahkee and Kecia Reyes (Daughter of Luana Reyes) co-presenting the Luana Reyes Leadership Award
Luana Reyes Leadership Award - Kecia Reyes greeting Robyn Sunday-Allen
Luana Reyes Leadership Award - Robyn Sunday-Allen acceptance speech (Oklahoma)
Luana Reyes Leadership Award - Robyn Sunday-Allen (Oklahoma)
Luana Reyes Leadership Award - Robyn Sunday-Allen (Oklahoma)

Closing Remarks

Closing Remarks - RADM Michael Weahkee and MC Ben Smith