ARLINGTON, Va. - The award on the office wall will look good for many years to come.
But the true reward for Lt. Col. Joseph Knott, who became the first National Guard Soldier to win the Pace Award from Headquarters, Department of the Army, on July 27, is the knowledge that the results from his superior work in 2006 that led to the award will endure forever. The award recognizes an Army staff officer whose personal efforts have made a contribution of outstanding significance to the Army.
Knott, 46, received the award, presented annually to an officer assigned to Headquarters, Department of the Army, for his work as the program manager for the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program. The program establishes buffer areas near Army and Army National Guard installations to protect endangered species and natural landscapes and to prevent incompatible development in the vicinity of military installations. The buffers significantly reduce the impact of encroachment on Soldier training and military-equipment testing.
"These buffers are forever," said Knott, a full-time Soldier from Cincinnati, Ohio. "The thousands of acres that the Army and its partners have preserved can never be changed. That's the law. Our grandkids can walk onto that land in the future, and it's going to be the same as it is today."
According to the citation read by Joyce Morrow, administrative assistant to the Secretary of the Army, Knott partnered with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, various federal and state agencies and conservation groups to secure more than 50,000 acres of permanent buffer areas. He also ensured that 18 Army installations now have long-term plans, funding methods and actions to protect accessibility, capacity and capability for Soldier training.
"Lt. Col. Knott took this program in its infancy and turned it into the Department of Defense standard for buffer programs," said Morrow during the ceremony in the Garand Conference Room in the Pentagon. "He was the right person at the right time for this program. Through his dedication and hard work, the ACUB became the premier tool for the Army to ensure installations can continue to train Soldiers."
Knott was passionate about the two ideals surrounding the ACUB.
"This program incorporates two of the most important things in the world – training Soldiers and preserving the environment," he said. "That dual concept is what Soldiers should take a look at when they think about the ACUB program. It enables them to continue their realistic training but also protects the Earth for their kids and grandkids.
"Those parks, nature preserves and streams that are protected now, they'll be there until no one else is around," Knott said.
The Pace Award was established in 1962 and is named after former Secretary of the Army Frank Pace who held the office from 1950-1953. The award is presented annually to one Army officer, lieutenant colonel or below, and one civilian employee.
Knott is the first National Guard Soldier to receive the award in its 45 years. Lt. Gen. Clyde Vaughn, director of the Army Guard, attended the ceremony and said Knott's award was just another example of the exciting things he is currently seeing from talented National Guard Soldiers. Also present was Lt. Gen. James Campbell, the Department of the Army's director of Army Staff.
"It's historic and we continue to have our Guard members do historic things," Vaughn said. "We are seeing more Guard Soldiers in greater positions of trust than in the past. The Army is embracing all of its components."
Knott is currently assigned as a military construction specialist team leader in the Department of the Army's Base Realignment and Closure Office.
Secretary of the Army Peter Geren, was scheduled to present Knott the Pace Award, but he was forced to miss the ceremony due to an unexpected situation. Knott said he did receive Geren's congratulations in a private meeting.
The civilian Pace Award recipient was Kathryn Herhusky. She was unable to attend the ceremony because she is currently embedded with the Provincial Reconstruction Team, 2nd Infantry Division, in Iraq.