Civilian employees receive prestigious award

Left photo: Luigi Micco is presented the Unsung Hero Award by Deputy Minister Jody Thomas. Right photo: Dustin Williams is awarded the Emerging Leader Award by Deputy Minister Jody Thomas. Photos by Cpl Michael MacIsaac, Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa) – Imaging Services

Left photo: Luigi Micco is presented the Unsung Hero Award by Deputy Minister Jody Thomas. Right photo: Dustin Williams is awarded the Emerging Leader Award by Deputy Minister Jody Thomas. Photos by Cpl Michael MacIsaac, Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa) – Imaging Services

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

Two employees from Esquimalt’s Real Property Operations Pacific (RPOps) have been recognized with the prestigious Deputy Minister Award for Excellence.

Electrician Luigi Micco of RPOps’ electrical shop won this year’s Unsung Hero Award, while Dustin Williams, manager of the unit’s Water Fuel and Environment department took the Emerging Leader Award.

The Celebrating Excellence Awards Program represents the highest expression of recognition under the Department of National Defence (DND) Awards and Recognition Policy.

The pair were among 44 recipients honoured during a June 15 ceremony at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa with Deputy Minister of National Defence Jody Thomas and Chief of Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance among dignitaries. The award recipients received a scrolled certificate signed by Minister Thomas along with a piece of handcrafted Canadian art.

Micco, 57, has worked as an electrician for DND since 1984 and said he was “thrown aback” when he first opened an email earlier this year telling him he had won the award.

“I am just a little fish from Esquimalt who does his job and loves his work,” said Micco. “If people are happy with the work I do then I’m happy. I never thought my work would be recognized with such a prestigious national award.”

He was nominated for the award by Gerald Bennie, RPOps A Electrical Systems Business Manager, who described Micco as a dedicated worker who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and is always ready to spring into action. That includes responding to calls about alarm problems at the base at all hours of the night or teaching himself how to repair new electrical devices and technology on his own time.

“I have a lot of great technicians working in RPOps electrical systems, but Luigi sets the standard for the way things should be done,” said Bennie. “He mentors new employees and is always available to
drop whatever he is doing to ensure operations, safety and security are maintained.”

The pair captured two of this year’s awards for their unit, and that in itself is a remarkable feat says Master Warrant Officer Rony Granados, RPOps Section Sergeant Major.

“It is important to highlight the thousands of public service employees who work at bases across Canada, so to have two winners from the same unit from one base is truly a feather in our cap and we are so proud of Dustin and Luigi,” said MWO Granados.

With assistance from Base Logistics, Williams’ department oversees all of the waste water, drinking water, fuel lines and fuel containers at the base. MWO Granados nominated Williams for the award. He describes his co-worker as someone who embodies the spirit of the Award for Excellence Emerging Leader category.

“Dustin is a great leader who does whatever it takes to get it done and doesn’t bat an eye or panic when the unexpected happens,” said MWO Granados. “He’s someone you can count on who understands the operational requirements and is quick to provide solutions to problems. He is definitely part of the Government of Canada’s new wave of up-and-coming leaders.”

For more information about the nomination process and the awards themselves, visit the Government of Canada web page: http://intranet.mil.ca/en/res/awards-honours-recognition/awards-recog/celebrating-excellence/celebrating-excellence.page

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  1. Daniela Croatto says:

    Complimenti caro cugino Luigi !!!

  2. Danielacroatto says:

    COMPLIMENTI caro cugino !!!
    Siamo orgogliosi di te !!!!

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