As we approach Memorial Day, GEICO is proudly recognizing five
members of the United States military with its 2023 GEICO Military
Service Awards. These awards serve as a tribute to the immeasurable
sacrifices, unwavering dedication, and invaluable contributions of
enlisted service members.
GEICO’s Military Service Awards, which have recognized members
of the U.S. military since 1988, not only acknowledge the
distinguished leadership commitment these individuals exemplify
while in uniform, but also highlights the profound and lasting
impact they make as engaged citizens within their local
communities. Through their continued service and leadership, both
in the military and beyond, these five awardees embody the spirit
of selflessness and patriotism that defines the best of our
nation's armed forces.
"When GEICO was founded as Government Employees Insurance
Company in 1936, military members became our very first customers
who trusted us to protect their most valuable belongings," said
Lona Montgomery, GEICO’s Head of Agency Operations. "Supporting our
service members has been a key part of GEICO’s history since our
founding, and the GEICO Military Service Awards provide a special
opportunity to honor those who have made sacrifices to defend our
freedom."
The 2023 GEICO Military Service Award recipients are:
Sgt. Tia N. Johnson—United States Army
Sgt. Johnson devotes her time to support more than 74,000
veterans and family members at the Mt. Carmel Veterans Center in
Colorado Springs, Colo., by providing food and essential items.
She also spends time with Gold Star families who have lost a
loved one during active-duty service, specifically volunteering
with the Gold Star Child Outdoor Initiatives. Sgt. Johnson’s work
helped provide ten Gold Star families with a once in a lifetime
fishing experience.
Along with assisting military families, Sgt. Johnson also enjoys
working with children with disabilities. She helps make it possible
for them to attend the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, one of the largest
outreach initiatives between Fort Carson, Colo., where she’s
stationed and the surrounding community.
While on-duty, Sgt. Johnson specializes in data science and
supports an initiative that provides cutting-edge data analysis to
help the army with decision-making.
Sgt. Travis E. Mann—United States Marine Corps
Sgt. Mann has joined the fight against hunger, volunteering
countless hours packaging and distributing meals to homeless
shelters through the Rise Against Hunger program. He also supports
those experiencing homelessness by spending time with Miracle
Messages, where his selfless actions led to the family
reunification of more than 500 people.
Sgt. Mann’s volunteer work stretches to the international
community as well. While stationed in Japan, he helped with local
recovery efforts after severe flooding and mudslides displaced
several Japanese families near his military base.
Sgt. Mann serves as an avionics technician instructor, teaching
advanced avionics to entry level students. He’s well-respected for
his technical knowledge and mentorship, and his students frequently
complete their studies with some of the highest grade-point
averages among enlisted Marines.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Ciara N. Farmer—United States
Navy
Petty Officer Farmer uses her own personal journey to help
inspire other women. She underwent a double mastectomy and
reconstructive surgery, and while recovering, she founded the Emma
B.A.M. (Bras after Mastectomies) Foundation to honor her
grandmother, who lost her battle to breast cancer in 2012.
The Emma B.A.M. Foundation provides bras for women around the
world who have undergone mastectomies or lumpectomies, helping to
give both financial and emotional support.
Petty Officer Farmer also raises awareness for breast cancer by
participating in speaking engagements, most notably at Walter Reed
Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where she emphasizes the
importance of annual mammograms and self-exams.
On duty, Petty Officer Farmer serves as the leading petty
officer for the supply department at the Naval Submarine Medical
Research Laboratory in Groton, Conn., where she oversees critical
procurements. She also supports patients at the on-base medical and
dental clinics and serves as a women’s sexual assault victim
advocate for her entire naval installation.
Senior Airman Danielle Ziemba—United States Air Force
Senior Airman Ziemba demonstrates strong leadership, serving as
Airman Council President over more than 500 of her peers. In this
role, she organized a series of seminars on career progression,
education, finances, and mentorship to support her fellow
airmen.
Senior Airman Ziemba has focused on making an impact throughout
the state of Arkansas as well. She led a tornado relief initiative,
securing more than 1,500 essential items which were donated to more
than 150 individuals recovering from this natural disaster.
She also managed a team that conducted an eight-week food drive
to restock Arkansas’ only veteran-dedicated food pantry.
Along with helping veterans, Senior Airman Ziemba focuses on
youth education as well. She led a team of volunteers who raised
$24,000 to support the Central Arkansas Library System and the
Arkansas Humanities Council.
While on duty, Senior Airman Ziemba is committed to safety. She
designed a chemical management system for 131 maintenance shops,
which led to her being selected as the Air Force’s Bioenvironmental
Engineering Airman of the Year. Along with chemical management,
Senior Airman Ziemba led efforts to update ventilation operating
procedures, which resulted in the addition of 31 ventilation
systems at Air Force installations.
Sgt. Yuji R. Moore—United States Space Force
Sgt. Moore has devoted countless hours using his technical
expertise to help individuals with autism by partnering with an
application development company to test specially adapted video
chat software. His volunteer efforts and assistance with the
testing has helped advance facial recognition technology, promoting
accessibility for some 75 million people impacted by autism
spectrum disorder.
Sgt. Moore also serves as an exemplary ambassador for the Space
Force. He joined a leadership panel where he discussed culture and
team building, providing mentorship for some 2,700 attendees from
across the country.
Sgt. Moore’s volunteer efforts span across the international
community as well. Between missions, he organized 12 volunteer
events, sorting and delivering more than 6,000 pounds of food to a
local resource center. His team's efforts effectively provided
vital relief to 18,000 Ukrainian refugees.
While on duty, Sgt. Moore oversees critical intelligence
operations. His leadership has earned him recognition as the Space
Delta 7's Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award recipient and his team
was awarded the United States Space Force's Intelligence
Surveillance and Reconnaissance Small Team of the Year.
About GEICO
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company), the
third-largest auto insurer in the U.S., was founded in 1936 and
insures vehicles in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
GEICO, a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies,
constantly strives to make lives better by protecting people
against unexpected events while saving them money and providing an
outstanding customer experience. Along with personal auto
insurance, commercial auto and personal umbrella coverages are also
available. Homeowners, renters, condo, flood, identity theft, term
life, and more coverages are written through non-affiliated
insurance companies and are secured through the GEICO Insurance
Agency, LLC. Visit GEICO.com for a quote or to learn more.
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