Military & Veterans News

DOD Announces Winners of the 2020 Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence

U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Department of Defense

Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper has announced the 2020 recipients of the Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence.

The Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of the people who operate and maintain U.S. military installations. The five recipients of this highly competitive presidential award were selected for their exemplary support of Department of Defense missions.

Recipients of the 2020 Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence are:

U.S. Army Garrison Fort Drum, New York
Senior Commander: Major General Brian J. Mennes, U.S. Army
Garrison Commander:  Colonel Jeffery P. Lucas, U.S. Army

Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia
Commanding Officer: Captain Bradley N. Rosen, U.S. Navy

Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, California
Base Commander: Brigadier General Roger Turner, U.S. Marine Corps

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
Commanding Officer: Colonel Patricia A. Csànk, U.S. Air Force

Defense Distribution Depot, San Joaquin, California
Commanding Officer: Colonel Tiffany. N. Harris, U.S. Marine Corps

Installations compete on how well they achieve the department’s objectives in several areas of installation management, including mission support, energy conservation, quality of life and unit morale, environmental stewardship, real property management, safety, health and security, communications, and public relations.

Excellent installations enable better mission performance and enhance the working and living conditions for military men and women, DOD civilians and their families.  Each of the winning installations succeeded at being the best in achieving excellence in performing installation management within their military service and the Defense Logistics Agency.

Each winning installation will receive a commemorative trophy and flag and a congratulatory letter from the president.

For information about each winning installation’s accomplishments, read these narratives.

For more information about the award program, read this fact sheet.

From Our Member Community

The Dick Van Dyke Show WeSalute Awards CelebVet: Dick Van Dyke “I'm looking for work if anybody has,” joked the now 100-year-old comedian and entertainer Dick Van Dyke. Best known for his iconic roles in films like Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and the classic television series The Dick Van Dyke Show, the beloved actor has officially joined the centenarian club. Van Dyke celebrated his 100th birthday on December 13, a milestone marked not by a lavish Hollywood gala, but in true Van Dyke fashion: with a low-key day at home watching Jeopardy! reruns with his wife, Arlene Silver.
holiday travel guide 2025 Discounts & Benefits WeSalute Review: Your 2025 Holiday Travel Guide on How to Save More and Stress Less on Your Getaway The holiday season is officially in full swing. While the golden rule of travel is usually "book early," we know that military & veteran life doesn't always adhere to a strict schedule. If you are just now finalizing your plans for Hanukkah, Christmas, or New Year's, don't panic. Preparation is still the key to a stress-free vacation, and even at this late stage, knowing where to look can lead to significant savings.
Scott Higgins Discounts & Benefits Connecting When It Matters Most: Your Two Weeks to Make Memories As the calendar flips closer to the end of the year, we enter what I always consider the most critical two weeks for connection. This run-up to the holidays — from mid-December right through Christmas and New Year’s — is when the impulse to connect with friends, family, and loved ones becomes a necessity. For the military community, whose lives are defined by separation, these are the moments you simply can't miss.

Join Our Community.
 

Yes, Get Me Started

Already a member? Login now.