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SDDC award recognizes those who ‘challenge the status quo’

  • Published
  • By Mark Diamond
  • SDDC Public Affairs
Scott Air Force Base, Ill. --  Since the creation of the Eagle Award, two individuals from Headquarters Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command captured both the military and civilian categories.

Maj. Andreas Taylor and Meghan McCoy, both from SDDC's Global Container Management branch, were named military and civilian Eagle Award winners.

About every 30 to 45 days, Maj. Gen. Kevin Leonard, SDDC commanding general, and Michael Williams, deputy commander, present an Eagle Award to one military service member and one civilian employee.

The general created the awards to recognize headquarters personnel who "willingly take on change" and "challenge the status quo."

According to their award nomination packages, Taylor and McCoy both demonstrated those qualities and more.

Maj. Andreas Taylor

According to Taylor's award package, following his participation in a 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command pre-deployment conference and Command Post Exercise at Fort Bliss, Texas, he was cited for his expertise in the container management field and for his patient, coaching style.

As part of the exercise, Taylor injected 33 container management scenarios related to container detention, container policies, port congestion, and yard management, while at the same time managing the responses of unit personnel. He also worked closely with the exercise Country Container Authority to develop solutions to the injected problems.

GCM Deputy Branch Chief Lt. Col. Terry Mays said Taylor's actions will ensure the 364th ESC deploys with an understanding of container management.

"Taylor sets the example for SDDC's support of the warfighter and is highly deserving of the Eagle Award," said Mays.

Taylor, a transportation officer, said it's an honor to be recognized at any level of command, but especially at the CG and DTC level.

"Every day, I try to practice good work ethics," Taylor said. "This award also reflects my beliefs and military upbringing ... the support of my leaders and everyone involved in SDDC container management made this possible."

When asked what the Eagle Award means to him, Taylor said, "duty."

"It's my 'duty,' whatever the job given, to perform to the best of my ability," added the major. "I look at every problem using the military problem-solving method. Once understanding the problem and gaining knowledge on solving the problem, I then can go out and inform others within that discipline (i.e., container management) on solutions. Therefore, whenever I'm tasked, I do it willingly."

Meghan McCoy

Mays described McCoy as "an energetic performer who places the needs of the warfighter at the forefront of all her professional endeavors."

McCoy was recognized for voluntarily deploying to Kuwait in support of the 595th Transportation Brigade Pilferage Deterrence Cell. According to Mays, during her deployment, McCoy was instrumental in improving the U.S. Army Central - Theater Common Operating Picture, the system utilized to track container pilferage.

"Additionally, research indicated many container intrusion tags alarmed as a result of unit personnel not understanding how to deactivate them," said Mays. "Ms. McCoy tackled the problem, developing and releasing a Customer Advisory that resulted in a reduction in false alarms following the document's release."

The lieutenant colonel added that McCoy's contributions greatly enhanced the identity and reputation of SDDC and are representative of the finest traditions established by the Eagle Award.

"It's truly an honor to be recognized by the CG and the DTC for the work I've done for the command," said McCoy, a traffic management specialist with the GCM branch. "It further reiterates the importance of what I accomplish on a daily basis."

When asked what the Eagle Award means to her, McCoy said it means "the CG expects and encourages me, as a SDDC employee, to find the best way--and not necessarily the way it was accomplished in the past--to solve a problem and get the mission accomplished. I feel challenged to think of new and better ways to support the warfighter."

In fact, McCoy said doing the job one way because "that's the way it's always been done," is a mindset that could hinder someone from completing the task at hand.

"The world is constantly changing and the 'way we we've always done it' may no longer be good enough. We need to be able to respond to our environment in innovative and effective ways."

When the SDDC commanding general first created the Eagle Award, he said he believes the recognition program is right on target.

"This is a way for Mike Williams and me to reach down into the formation and let others know that we see their excellence," the general explained. "How do you build change within an organization? Honestly, you have to do it one troop, one person, at a time. And it will grow over time; viral change never ends ... rewarding excellence; that's what it's all about."

Leonard explained that "change" is an integral part of the SDDC culture and, he said, "excellence" will fuel that change.

In addition to an Eagle Award plaque, Taylor and McCoy were each presented a crystal eagle statuette and the book, "Once An Eagle," by Anton Myrer.