The 2017 Secretary’s Unity of Effort Award recognizes outstanding efforts in coordination, and unity of effort across the Department of Homeland Security by significantly improving efficiency and effectiveness. The award acknowledges group efforts within the Department or with external partners who assist in meeting our commitment of unity of effort.
Agent Brian Terry Case Unit
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Washington, D.C.
Daylon Bakken
Jon Billingsley
Christopher K. Bish
Thomas Blanchard
Michael Brunner
Amanda Burke
Letisia Camarillo
Michael Chavira
Billy C. Collins, Jr.
Steve Compton
Andre Creekmore
Jon Dooher
Robin Dooley
Arthur Elliott
Kris Ericson
Brian Franke
Rolando Garcia
Andres Gonzales
Carlos Gonzalez
Efren Gonzalez
Michael Hardwick
Kelley Helms
Ross Hensley
Peter Hermansen
Melvin Holstein
Keefe Huffman
David Jackson
Ronald Jester
Shane Klakken
Justin Lamb
Eric Letzgus
Harold Londrie
Dennis Lorenz
Troy Meridith
Aaron Mitchell
Jeffrey Muller
Jose Muriente
Antonio Murillo
Christopher Nardone
Brent Nelson
Rodney Nichols
Donald Peterman
Robert Peterson
Mario Proto
Kimberly Ramsey
Corey Roddey
John Russell
James Santaferrara
Justin Shaw
Somkhit Soukhome
Hugh Stroube
Timothy Sutherland
Shy Thorsen
Marie Torres
Robert Turner
Eloy Urquidez
David Vera
Eric Winget
Matthew Lawton
United States Coast Guard
Samuel Towers
United States Coast Guard
For exceptional teamwork and international collaboration that resulted in the apprehension of a long-sought fugitive indicted for the 2010 killing of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
The DHS Data Act Project Team
Management Directorate
Washington, D.C.
Christopher Dent
Michael Dodd
Tim Fleming
Eric Iacobucci
Douglas Jennings
Lena Lewis
Andrew Lowden
Michael McClennan
Kathleen Oliver
Lauren Simpkins
Alyssa Smiley
Vincent Sprouls
Mary Tutman
Christine Ferris
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Jeremy Matson
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
Gregory Teets
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Michelle Cutting
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers
Office of Intelligence and Analysis
David Suh
National Protection and Programs Directorate
James Alfredo
Office of Health Affairs
Anthony Caracciolo
Science and Technology Directorate
Irwin Neveu
Transportation Security Administration
Dustin Whitney
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Veronica Butler
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Justin Gordon
United States Coast Guard
Stella Whitsell
United States Coast Guard
David Tagg
United States Secret Service
For outstanding teamwork and dedication that brought the Department into compliance with the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 by the law’s aggressive implementation date in May 2017, the only large federal agency to do so.
Eastern Caribbean Regional Integrating Group
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Miami, Florida
Marcelino Borges
Scott Buschman
Mark Moore
Johnny Morales
Eric Rembold
Robert Warren
For exceptional teamwork and collaboration across law enforcement components, working together to gather intelligence, investigate leads and interdict criminals in support of the DHS mission.
FLETC Hurricane Matthew Response and Recovery Team
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers
Glynco, Georgia
Melrone Atkinson
Sharon Bodford
Jannett Bradford
Troy Chinen
Dawayne Heidt
Glenn Hill
Sammy Huggins
Richard Judy
Gerald Kinnett
James Moses
James Parker
Carlos Reyes
Lawrence Stidham
Lisa Triola
James Vaughn
Anna Vaughn
Robert Ware
Phillip Williams
Zynn Yarborough
Peter Zucco
Jennifer Bible
Chrissy Orr
In recognition of extraordinary, selfless efforts in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew to the FLETC Charleston campus that allowed work to continue, as the response group morphed into a recovery team.
Joint Task Force - West, Operation All In
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Washington, D.C.
David Benavides
Belinda Castaneda
Sylvia Gutierrez
Rachelle Henderson
Melissa Izaguirre
Richard Labak
Alfredo Lozano
Elizabeth Lozano
Edmundo Moncayo
John Morris
Carmen Qualia
Jose Rodriguez
Edgar Rodriguez
Ronald Stanley
Janie Young
Jeffrey Zadareky
For exceptional teamwork and collaboration in carrying out Department-wide synchronized operations designed to disrupt human smuggling activities across the Southwest Border, resulting in multiple convictions.
Operation Golden Grocery Team DHS
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
New York, New York
George Ioannidis
Jason Wong
Richard Cooper
Patrick Egan
U.S. Department of Justice - U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District
Lisa Barretti-Symonds
U.S. Department of Agriculture
For extraordinary collaboration and team work in successfully prosecuting individuals engaged in a conspiracy to steal several million dollars from the Federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
Aviation Security Working Group
Science and Technology Directorate
Washington, D.C.
Nelson Carey
Claudia Dengler
Polly Gongwer
Brenda Klock
Robert Klueg
Kim Lee
Frank Leibowitz
Christopher Mashburn
Theresa McGhee
Jason Stairs
Steven Wallen
United States Secret Service
Laura Conner
United States Secret Service
Amber Kasbeer
Transportation Security Administration
Anthony Grassi
Transportation Security Administration
Michael Calabrese
Transportation Security Administration
Domenic Bianchini
Transportation Security Administration
For innovation and continuing collaboration in support of the TSA’s efforts to counter emerging threats to aviation security.