Sheppard Civilian receives Air Force Distinguished Civilian Service Award Published July 30, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Jacob Corbin 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Team Sheppard member Risa Hillard, director of training and education for the 82nd Training Group, was recently named an Air Force nominee for the 53rd Annual Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award by acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. The DoD Distinguished Civilian Service Award is the highest DoD-level award that a career civil servant can earn. This prestigious competitive award recognizes career employees at all levels for their exceptional contributions. Nominees must have shown exceptional devotion to duty and extremely significant contributions of a broad scope in the operation of DoD. The following DoD employees received this award "Each year the Secretary of Defense recognizes a small number of DoD civilian employees whose careers reflect exceptional devotion to duty and extremely significant contributions of broad scope and efficiency to DoD operation," Secretary Donley said in a letter July 3. "Selection as an Air Force nominee for this prestigious award is a distinction few attain." Ms. Hillard will continue on to compete at the DoD level, where she will not only represent Team Sheppard, but the Air Force as well. Brig. Gen. O.G. Mannon, 82nd Training Wing commander, said this selection recognizes Ms. Hillard as one of the finest members that Team Sheppard has to offer. (Information from a Defenselink.mil story was used in the writing of this one).