ARA’s Larry Hull Earns Cardia Draconis Award from Air Force Emergency Management Community
Panama City, Florida (PRWEB) November 07, 2013 -- More than 60 friends, family and colleagues (both past and present) gathered recently to witness the presentation of the Cardia Draconis or “Heart of the Dragon” award by the Air Force Emergency Management community to Larry Hull, ARA’s Training Solutions Group Leader. The Emergency Management Career Field Manager, Chief Claudette Watler-Hall, and the Air Force Emergency Management Division Chief, Mr. Mike Connors, presented the prestigious award for Larry’s lifelong professionalism and contributions to the Air Force Emergency Management community. Only nine others have ever been awarded the Air Force’s Cardia Draconis honor.
Larry has the distinction of being the first person to enter the Emergency Management career field direct from basic training and progressing to the highest enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant during his Air Force career. His assignments spanned 25 years in the Air Force and ranged from base level to Air Staff (Pentagon). Intermediate stops along the way included an assignment to the Air Combat Command’s Inspector General staff, and Chief of Air Force Training and Policy Development at the Disaster Preparedness Resource Center (the forerunner to today’s Emergency Management Division at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center). Larry’s final assignment was as the Emergency Management Manager for all of Air Mobility Command.
While his résumé of assignments was impressive, it was his quiet demeanor, skilled leadership, and willingness to mentor those assigned under his watch that caught the attention of his colleagues and Air Force leadership.
Mike Connors echoed the sentiments of the Proclamation read by Chief Watler-Hall by saying “Larry’s personal and professional sacrifices demand that we recognize and honor him. He has fought countless battles for manpower, equipment and resources on behalf of the Emergency Management career field. He stayed the course and we will reap the benefits of his efforts for years to come.”
The Cardia Draconis is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an Air Force Emergency Manager and the command representative from each of the Air Force Major Command (MAJCOM) signs the Award Proclamation. The Air Force Emergency Management Career Field Manager, the “Keeper of the Sword”, ensures the integrity and honor of the award is maintained at the highest level. Only those who have demonstrated the highest level of professionalism, service before self, integrity, moral character, an outstanding degree of professional competence, and have contributed to the promotion of the Emergency Management in numerous ways over the course of their career receive this special honor. The Cardia Draconis brings pride and fosters Esprit de Corp among all members of the Emergency Management career field.
"It is a great pleasure to congratulate Larry on being recognized for his dedicated service to the Emergency Management career field," said Glen McDonald, ARA Senior Vice President. "To be given an award that rises to the level of the Cardia Draconis, which has only been awarded to nine others in the Air Force, is also a testament to Larry’s outstanding leadership and character."
Mike Rochefort, ARA Vice President, stated, “ARA prides itself on identifying, hiring, and retaining the highest caliber performers in their respective career fields. We are truly proud that Larry is a part of our ARA Team.”
Alisa Kinsaul, Applied Research Associates, http://www.ara.com, +1 (850) 914-3188, [email protected]
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