NHC's Stacy Stewart Awarded Bronze Star Medal

[srainhoutx]

Capt. Stacy Stewart, a NOAA hurricane specialist and U.S. Navy reservist, has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

According to Department of Defense, the Bronze Star is awarded to those who, while serving in or with the U.S. military, distinguished themselves “through heroic or meritorious achievement while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States.”

The award came as a complete surprise to Stewart, who was attached to the U.S. Army Command and had been stationed most recently at Camp Phoenix, located on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan.

“I was summoned into U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Dudney's office,” explained Stewart. “Naturally, I assumed it was going to be a Q&A session about a recent mission.”

Instead, as several more people began to file in, an impromptu award ceremony commenced. He was first awarded a Navy Service Ribbon — he already has 12 Overseas Service Ribbons. Stewart then received an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, similar to the Iraqi Campaign Medal he was given in 2008 during his deployment in Iraq. These were followed by a NATO Service Medal, two office plaques and a Camp Phoenix command coin.

But, what came next was a “total and complete shock” according to Stewart: the Bronze Star Medal.

“I was stunned and still am!” added a humbled Stewart.

“We congratulate Stacy on this prestigious award and his exemplary service to his country,” said Bill Read, director, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. “We are glad he is safe and are thrilled he’s back home.”

After being home just nine months after more than a year of active duty in Iraq, Stewart was recalled again in January 2009 as part of the U.S. military's first surge effort in Afghanistan.

During his 12-month tour of duty in Afghanistan, Capt. Stewart was promoted to his current rank, but was permitted to continue working with NATO Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams. He oversaw the training of Afghan National Army soldiers and their execution of various types of military operations. He also observed and evaluated the tactics used by new Afghan National Police members.

In fulfilling his duties, he participated in more than 80 combat missions and accumulated more than 3,000 ground convoy miles traversing the dangerous roads of Kabul and much of Afghanistan.

Stacy returned to the U.S. on February 9 and recently resumed his duties as a hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami in time to prepare for this year’s hurricane season. In the coming months, he’ll have his eye on the weather “battlefield,” which includes producing watches and warnings for tropical cyclones in the Atlantic and eastern North Pacific oceans.

http://www.noaaworld.noaa.gov/people/ma ... ple_1.html

[Stormrider]

Bravo Zulu CAPT Stewart.