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The Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal 2017

The 2017 Secretary’s Meritorious Service Medal recognizes exceptional individual leadership or service that is distinguished by achievements of marked significance over time to the Department of Homeland Security. This award will recognize a body of work characterized by superior performance related to significant accomplishments, business improvements or notable resourcefulness and diligence that significantly improved the effectiveness of the Department of Homeland Security in one or more program areas.

Allen Blume, management directorate, receives the Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. Blume was recognized for executing the Department's nearly $70 billion spending authority, formulating the annual DHS budget and it's submission to Congress, and creating the common Appropriations Structure. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco.
Allen Blume, management directorate, receives the Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. Blume was recognized for executing the Department's nearly $70 billion spending authority, formulating the annual DHS budget and it's submission to Congress, and creating the common Appropriations Structure. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco.   (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)

Allen Blume

Management Directorate
Washington, D.C.

For executing the Department’s nearly seventy billion dollar spending authority, formulating the annual DHS budget and its submission to Congress, and creating the Common Appropriations Structure.

Gloria Chavez and Enrique Tamayo of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, receive the Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. Chavez and Tamayo were recognized for developing a strategy and business plan that aids border security efforts through the implementation of temporary holding facilities to help alleviate CBP capacity challenges. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco.
Gloria Chavez and Enrique Tamayo of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, receive the Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. Chavez and Tamayo were recognized for developing a strategy and business plan that aids border security efforts through the implementation of temporary holding facilities to help alleviate CBP capacity challenges. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco. (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)

CBP Migration Crisis Action Team

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Washington, D.C.

Gloria I. Chavez
Enrique S. Tamayo

For developing a strategy and business plan that aids border security efforts through the implementation of temporary holding facilities to help alleviate CBP capacity challenges.

Customs and Border Protection Detroit Field Office Agricultural Unit receives the Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. They were honored for developing and implementation of an initiative that has expanded across the nation significantly increasing interceptions of undeclared and undocumented biological materials in air passenger and cargo environments resulting in expanding best practices across th
Customs and Border Protection Detroit Field Office Agricultural Unit receives the Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. They were honored for developing and implementation of an initiative that has expanded across the nation significantly increasing interceptions of undeclared and undocumented biological materials in air passenger and cargo environments resulting in expanding best practices across the nation. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco. (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)

Detroit Field Office Agricultural Unit

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Detroit, Michigan

Kimberly Nott
Jose G. Feliciano
Robyn M. Cotting
Adam J. Pitt
Steven K. Ashton
Vincent M. Belill
Vivian Nalu
Allen J. Burger
Randall L. Bart

In recognition of the development and implementation of an initiative that has expanded across the nation, significantly increasing interceptions of undeclared and undocumented biological materials in air passenger and cargo environments.

Douglas McCann, U.S. Coast Guard, receives the Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. McCann was recognized for his vast knowledge and understanding of resource and infrastructure management and the development of a database system that replaced many manual process resulting in management efficiencies across the service. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco.
Douglas McCann, U.S. Coast Guard, receives the Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. McCann was recognized for his vast knowledge and understanding of resource and infrastructure management and the development of a database system that replaced many manual process resulting in management efficiencies across the service. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco. (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)

Douglas A. McCann

United States Coast Guard
Washington, D.C.

For vast knowledge and understanding of resource and infrastructure management and the development of a database system that replaced many manual processes resulting in management efficiencies, including for personnel.

Gregory L. Fletcher

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Laguna Nigel, California

In recognition of outstanding work and support for investigations in numerous family-based fraud detection and national security initiatives resulting in multiple arrests and guilty pleas by all defendants.

On behalf of the Coast Guard rescue aircrew who responded to a distress call in June 2016, Petty Officers Ryan Harvey and Jonathan Foss receive the Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. The aircrew from Coast Guard Sector San Diego medically evacuated a 67-year-old man who was experiencing symptoms of possible life-threatening diabetic complications aboard a sailing vessel approximately 380 miles sou
On behalf of the Coast Guard rescue aircrew who responded to a distress call in June 2016, Petty Officers Ryan Harvey and Jonathan Foss receive the Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. The aircrew from Coast Guard Sector San Diego medically evacuated a 67-year-old man who was experiencing symptoms of possible life-threatening diabetic complications aboard a sailing vessel approximately 380 miles southwest of San Diego en route to Hawaii. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco. (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)

Sailing Vessel PERSEVERANCE Coast Guard Rescue Crew

United States Coast Guard
San Diego, California

Wayne T. O’Donnell
Daniel G. Beshoar
Ryan W. Harvey
Jonathan H. Foss

In recognition of the team’s outstanding effort and bravery in rescue operations that saved a life.

Suzette Uthman

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Houston, Texas

For exemplary analysis, now used across the intelligence community, in detecting a trend in transnational criminal organization gang members in detention covering the organization’s tattoos to avoid prosecution and removal.

The Customs and Border Protection Volkswagen Customs Fraud Penalty Team receive the Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. The team was honored for securing a $4.3 billion settlement in fines against Volkswagen, the largest customs criminal and civlil fraud penalty ever recovered under U.S. Customs Laws. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco.
The Customs and Border Protection Volkswagen Customs Fraud Penalty Team receive the Secretary's Meritorious Service Silver Medal at the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2017. The team was honored for securing a $4.3 billion settlement in fines against Volkswagen, the largest customs criminal and civil fraud penalty ever recovered under U.S. Customs Laws. Official DHS photo by Jetta Disco. (DHS Photo by Jetta Disco/Released)

Volkswagen Customs Fraud Penalty Team

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Washington, D.C.

Lisa M. Wallace
Millissa A. Nixon
Adam Blank
Thomas McIntosh
Lesleyanne Kessler
Steven Bradd
Tinesha L. Cherry
Thomas J. Kendrick
Jerry A. Malmo
Wende A. Schuster
Georgina Grier
Susan Thomas
Christopher Bowman
Christopher E. Yonkman
John Scannell
William Mohalley
Andrew A. Peth
Monte K. Fulton

In recognition of exceptional team work in securing the largest customs criminal and civil fraud penalty ever recovered under U.S. Customs laws.

Last Updated: 08/16/2021
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