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Kadena civilian earns DOD David O. Cooke award PACAF nomination

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Malia Jenkins
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  An 18th Munitions Squadron civilian earned the Pacific Air Forces nomination for the 9th annual Department of Defense David O. Cooke Excellence in Public Administration award for her hard work and accomplishments from October 2010 to December 2012.

The David O. Cooke award recognizes non-managerial career civilian employees who demonstrate great leadership potential as future federal executives.

"It's a great honor to win this (nomination)," said Timmie Kerr, 18th MUNS unit program coordinator. "Winning this (nomination) was definitely a team effort; with all the opportunities my commander and supervisor have given me, I couldn't have done it without them."

Upon arriving at the squadron, Kerr identified broken processes and programs in the unit and dedicated her time to fix them. She was given responsibility of broken unit evaluation and decoration programs and within three months increased the on-time rate from 20 to 98 percent, which has been sustained for two years.

Kerr also improved the process for the systemic change of reporting official submission, increasing proper updates by 95 percent.

"(Kerr) is never satisfied with the status quo," said Lt. Col. Aaron Cowley, 18th MUNS commander. "She consistently takes it upon herself to improve not only processes, but herself; ever ensuring she remains at the top of her game, ready for more responsibility and new challenges."

Responsible for evaluation and decoration programs, Kerr maintained a 3.25 grade-point average and earn 83 credits towards her Human Resource Management bachelor's degree.

She also contributed to boosting morale in her squadron by helping fellow spouses with typhoon preparations, sponsoring new spouses, volunteering child care during exercises and organizing a deployed spouses' dinner.

"(Kerr) makes it a priority to make things better for everyone she comes in contact with," Cowley said.