PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific public affairs officer Don Rochon received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award Nov. 30 during an awards ceremony at NAVFAC Pacific headquarters.
"I am deeply honored," Rochon said. "I remember covering events like this when I was in the Army Reserve working in public affairs, and they were always special. Now, to be a recipient of this award, it just feels terrific that I could give something back to the Guard and Reserve after I retired."
Rochon has provided NAVFAC Pacific with continuous executive guidance and support for 14 years as the PAO. As a supervisor and mentor of the NAVFAC Pacific and Echelon IV command public affairs offices, he has always led by example by ensuring all rules and regulations were followed, made accurate judgment calls, gave great advice and most importantly made sure to take care of his people.
Recognizing the exceptional qualities he has shown through his leadership, actions and performance, Christine Rosalin, NAVFAC Pacific public affairs specialist and California National Guard officer, nominated Rochon for this award.
"Since day one, Don has been very supportive of my employment with NAVFAC Pacific and of all my military training requirements," Rosalin said.
"He has always kept me in the loop regarding my career while I was off-island for training and continuously worked around the demands of my military training schedule," she said. "He is also a great leader and mentor who always provides guidance to help me throughout my civilian and military career."
The ESGR Patriot Award is part of a program designed to recognize employers who support a strong National Guard and Reserve force.
Employers qualify for this recognition when they practice leadership and personnel policies that support employee participation in the Guard and Reserve.
"The impact of having supportive employers allows our Guardsmen and Reservist to better concentrate on their military duties and training, by knowing they will have a job to return to and that their civilian lives will not be impacted by their military service," said Sam Wong, ESGR representative.
"The ESGR program is immensely important and it has been a great success story for the Guard and Reserve," Rochon said. "I believe that any time we can showcase how employers can help their Guardsman and Reservists perform two important missions at one time - one working in their civilian capacity and one in uniform - is a notable and worthwhile goal, and one that the ESGR is so very good at."
Rochon served in the Army and Army Reserve and has juggled the responsibilities of his Reserve mission and civilian job, so he could empathize with the dilemma his employee was going through.
"The bottom line of every leadership course I took while I was in the Army and Army Reserve had the same axiom: Take care of your troops and your troops will take care of you," said Rochon. "I have tried to always keep this in mind as a civilian supervisor."