Posted on August 12, 2024
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Army Engineer Association and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers honored seven individuals who have made significant contributions to the Engineer Regiment in a ceremony Friday during the annual Castle Ball in Arlington, Virginia.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proud to recognize these individuals’ outstanding contributions and achievements,” said Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, 55th chief of engineers and USACE commanding general. “Their dedication and service embody the organization’s values and mission.”
Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Bryan Watson, AEA’s president and host of the event, presented the Sapper and Miner Award of Distinction to retired Col. Dan Grey and retired Col. James Shumway.
The award of distinction is considered a lifetime service award for a member of the Engineer Regiment, military or civilian, and is targeted toward individuals who contributed to the missions of mobility, counter-mobility, survivability, general engineering, or geospatial Army engineer operations.
Grey served as an engineer officer for almost 30 years and was recognized for not only his time in service but his continued support to the regiment in his retirement, serving as an AEA board member and committee chair for more than a decade.
Shumway served in the Engineer Regiment for nearly 30 years and was recognized for his impact on thousands of engineer Soldiers and leaders during his time of service.
The awards ceremony also included the induction of two new members to the Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Gallery of Distinguished Civilians. The gallery was established in 1955 to recognize civilians who rendered exceptional service to USACE.
Spellmon had the honor of inducting Mr. Bob Slockbower and Mr. Ed Hecker into the gallery.
Slockbower, a civil engineer with 46 years of federal service, was recognized for his career which included two deployments to the Middle East in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as his roles serving as the director of Military Programs at HQ and the director of Programs for the Southwestern Division. During his tenure, Slockbower created and managed a professional development program for engineers and scientists which is still in use today.
Hecker has 44 years of federal service and made significant contributions to USACE’s reputation as FEMA’s “go-to” organization for disaster response. Hecker’s expertise in emergency operations and stakeholder engagement played a crucial role in shaping the organization’s response to emergencies. Throughout his career, Hecker led reforms across USACE and developed new training programs, organizational exercises, and policies to address emerging worldwide threats.
The evening’s ceremony culminated in the presentation of Gold de Fleury Medals, the Engineer Regiment’s most prestigious award, to three individuals: Sgt. 1st Class Christopher A. Celiz, former USACE Command Sergeant Major Bradley Houston, retired, and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael L. Connor.
Celiz, a combat engineer, was posthumously awarded the Gold de Fleury Medal for his exemplary service and profound impact on the U.S. Army and the Engineer Regiment from 2007 to 2018. Celiz was killed in action in Afghanistan while protecting a MEDEVAC helicopter during intense enemy fire and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His family was presented the de Fleury medal in a separate ceremony earlier this year.
Houston’s medal was presented to him by the 54th Chief of Engineers and former USACE commanding general, retired Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, for his exemplary service to the Engineer Regiment.
Connor’s medal was presented by Spellmon for his decades of public service and commitment to collaboration among federal partners, making him an invaluable addition to the USACE team.
ABOUT THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides vital public engineering services in peace and war to strengthen our nation’s security, energize the economy, and reduce risks from disasters. For more information, visit www.usace.army.mil.
AWARD INFORMATION
Additional information about each award is available at:
- Sapper and Minor Award – https://armyengineer.com/sapper-and-minor-distinction-award/
- Gallery of Distinguished Civilians –
- de Fleury Medal –
The Honorable Michael L. Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, is honored with the Gold de Fleury Medal during the Engineer Castle Ball, Aug. 9, 2024.
Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley J. Houston is honored with the Gold de Fleury Medal during the Engineer Castle Ball, Aug. 9, 2024.
Ed Hecker is honored with the USACE Distinguished Civilian Award during the Engineer Castle Ball, Aug. 9, 2024.
Robert E. Slockbower is honored with the USACE Distinguished Civilian Award during the Engineer Castle Ball, Aug. 9, 2024.
Col. (Ret.) James D. Shumway IV is honored with the Sapper and Miner Award of Distinction during the Engineer Castle Ball, Aug. 9, 2024.
Col. (Ret.) Daniel G. Grey is honored with the Sapper and Miner Award of Distinction during the Engineer Castle Ball, Aug. 9, 2024.
The Color Guard posts the colors, formally commencing the Engineer Castle Ball, Aug. 9, 2024.
