Email   Print   Share By Heather Graham-Ashley, Sentinel News Editor

Facebook Digg Delicious June 14, 2012 | News

Brian Dosa (second from right), director, Fort Hood DPW, accepts one of two 2012 Secretary of Defense Environment Awards at a Pentagon ceremony June 6 in Washington, as Dale Frederick (second from left), Fort Hood Environmental Compliance Assessment, is presented an American flag. Fort Hood received two DoD-level awards during the ceremony: an environmental quality award in the non-industrial installation category and a team award presented to the Fort Hood Recycle Team, represented by Hector Nunez (center). To qualify for DoD-level awards, Fort Hood first won the Secretary of the Army Environmental Quality Awards. Courtesy photo

Fort Hood and its recycle program took home the hardware for winning in both the non-industrial installation and team categories of the 2012 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards. The awards were presented June 6 during a ceremony in Washington.

Each year since 1962, the Secretary of Defense has honored individuals, teams and installations for their outstanding achievements to conserve and sustain the natural and cultural resources entrusted to the Department of Defense.

To qualify for the DOD-level awards, Fort Hood won at the Army-level, receiving the Secretary of the Army Environmental Quality Award in the installation and team categories. After that achievement, the installation had to compete with entries from the Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard and National Guard, as well as other defense agencies.

“The awards validate the professionalism and expertise of the entire Directorate of Public Works- Environmental Division team,” Garrison Commander Col. Mark Freitag said.

He credited the team’s diversity in programs and projects in working toward Fort Hood’s Net Zero Waste goal.

“These awards recognize the commitment of Fort Hood leaders and Soldiers to doing what’s right for our environment, and it also rewards our DPW Environmental and recycle teams for their hard work and passion,” Brian Dosa, director of the Fort Hood Directorate of Public Works, said. “We’ve set a goal of Net Zero Waste by 2020; this award is a confirmation that we are on the right track and making good progress.”

Freitag said the awards were a testament to the program leadership of Dosa, Steve Burrow at DPW-E and Jaycee Turnquist for the Recycle Team.

“They’ve really brought these programs to the forefront,” Freitag said.