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Judy Dennis Receives Recognition For Outstanding Work Performance
On December 5, 2006, Judy Dennis, Oklahoma CPM and AACPM Secretary, received Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s "SEE" Award during a ceremony held in the foyer of the ODOT building in Oklahoma City. “SEE” is the emphasis of the agency’s mission: Safe, Economical and Effective. The statewide "SEE" award program was developed to recognize employees who consistently "go the extra mile" in performance of their job. The program is designed to be personally rewarding to those employees who strive to work safely, economically and effectively to build and maintain the transportation systems in the state of Oklahoma. Director of Transportation Gary Ridley (left) and FHWA Division Administrator Gary Corino (right) presented the awards. Dennis (center) is theTransportation Manger of the Rail Safety Branch.
David Stevens, New Hamphire CPM, to Help Train Afghan Army
 Article published Jan 17, 2007
Foster’s Daily Democrat
Dover, New Hampshire
By ADAM D. KRAUSS
Democrat Staff Writer
akrauss@fosters.com
ROCHESTER — Longtime City Councilor David Stevens is being deployed to Afghanistan to help the fledgling democracy's army in what he expects to be a one-year mission with 15 other members of the New Hampshire National Guard.
The East Rochester married father of two said he will be responsible for mentoring a battalion sergeant major in the Afghan Army. Working with a translator, he will be an "embedded team trainer."
Stevens is first being sent to Fort Riley in Kansas for three months of training after a Feb. 11 departure ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Concord. This is the third team of mentors the New Hampshire Army National Guard has deployed to Afghanistan since 2003.
A 30-year Guard veteran with more than 23 years of active duty, Stevens, 48, is a master sergeant with Joint Force Headquarters, where he provides daily risk analysis and vulnerability assessments.
After Tuesday's nonpublic session with councilors, where he revealed his plans, Stevens spoke about his preparation, reservations and expectations.
Being a career soldier, Stevens proudly accepted his orders and hopes he can make a difference.
"I'd be less than truthful if I said that I didn't have any reservations. I'm going a long thousands of miles away from home in a foreign country in less than ideal conditions," he said.
Despite the dangers, Stevens said he is optimistic.
"You're not always wanted by everybody where you're going, so it's obviously less than a very safe place. There's naturally danger in this position…but you try not to worry about that."
Stevens said he and his wife, Audrey, have been making preparations for his departure. They have a son, Joey, 18, who plans to move back into the house during the deployment, and a daughter, Jadyn, who is 16 months old.
"We're a very close-knit family, so being gone that long is something that obviously will be a challenge to the whole family, but we're a very strong family," he said. "Hopefully we'll communicate as much as possible ... and I think we'll have a very good network of friends and family while I'm gone."
This will be the longest time Stevens has been away from his family, his wife said.
Audrey said the family hopes to set up a Web camera to communicate.
"He's always been a man of character and he's doing what he needs to do," she said.
Stevens said he is not yet sure if he will resign from the council, where he has served for 12 years.
He has been very active with the city's Veterans Council and Lilac Family Fun Festival.
Editor’s note: David Stevens is a 2000 graduate of the New Hampshire Certified Public Manager® Program, 2001 Askew Award recipient, and former member of the NH Association of Certified Public Managers® and the American Academy of Certified Public Managers®.
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