FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (July 26, 2018) — Thirteen military and civilian personnel from Fort Leonard Wood were recognized by the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence as Instructors of the Year during a ceremony held July 20 in Lincoln Hall Auditorium here.

Maj. Gen. Kent Savre, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Trevor Walker, U.S. Army Engineer School regimental command sergeant major, presented awards during the ceremony.

Savre said the installation’s instructors play a big part in the post’s continued success.

“Our instructors, here at Fort Leonard Wood, positively impact thousands of service members and civilians in so many different ways professionally and personally,” Savre said. “You can be sure the students will remember our instructors and will forever be thankful for their leadership.”

The instructors receiving these awards are the best of the best, he added.

All military awardees received the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Achievement and civilians received the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service for Meritorious Achievement.

United States Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School awardees are as follows:

— Capt. Blas Martinez

— Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Dawson

— Staff Sgt. James Sheppard

— James Benton

United States Army Engineer School awardees are as follows:

— Capt. Christopher Hassel

— Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew Goble

— Staff Sgt. Robert Velasquez

— Edgar Rodriguez

United States Army Military Police School awardees are as follows:

— Capt. Danelle Gamble

— Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kelly Jameson

— Staff Sgt. Orlando Romero

—James Scott

MSCoE Non-Proponent group awardee is:

— Marine Staff Sgt. James Cassidy

Benton was recently selected as the first-place winner in the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command’s Civilian Instructor of the Year category, and Sheppard placed third in TRADOC’s Instructor of the Year Noncommissioned Officer category.

James Benton stands with Command Sgt. Maj. Trevor Walker, U.S. Army Engineer School, and Maj. Gen. Kent Savre, MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, after receiving the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service for Meritorious Achievement for winning Civilian Instructor of the Year for the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School. Benton also won first place in the TRADOC level competition. (Courtesy photo)