Army traffic manager best in field

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, Fall, 2004 by Mitch Chandran

A traffic manager credited with handling all transportation requirements for the movement of 3,000 service members in 30 different military units is the Army winner of SDDC's 2003 Excellence in Traffic Management Awards.

The award was presented to Floyd Rushton, a traffic manager for the 96th Regional Readiness Command, Salt Lake City, Utah.

"It's a little overwhelming for me," said Rushton. "To me, to get an award like this, I think it is pretty neat. It is quite an honor."

The award was one of seven that was presented Sept. 15 by Brig. Gen. Charles Fletcher, Jr., SDDC commander, to civilian transporters representing all the military services. The presentations were made at the annual meeting of the National Defense Transportation Association, in Milwaukee, Wis. The association, which funds the awards, promotes military transportation issues.

Rushton's work with deployed military units was additionally noteworthy because of the continuing support he provided once the service members arrived in Southwest Asia, said his supervisor, Dave DePaola.

"Steve managed an incredibly efficient travel office which serviced a vast geographical region," said DePaola, chief of the command's transportation and services division. "I'm very thrilled he is getting this award.

"As one example, he booked over 10,000 airline tickets throughout last year involving mobilizations, annual training, and various other missions."

In addition, Rushton coordinated hundreds of urgent federal express shipments for his customers, he said.

Rushton, said DePaola, promoted military and industry partnerships.

"Steve is constantly adapting to the changing requirements of the transportation business," said DePaola, "and he does so every day with a completely positive attitude."

Rushton, in his current position since 1985, said he thrives on the transportation mission and challenges.

"Whether it's moving people or moving freight, I enjoy the challenges that are associated with this job," said Rushton.

Six other SDDC Excellence in Traffic Management awards were also made. Recipients include: Clifford Theseira, traffic management specialist, Naval Regional Contracting Center, Singapore; Jesse Taijeron, quality control inspector. Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; Air Force Master Sgt. Rene' Guionnaud, Jr., chief, Traffic Management Flight, 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Incirlik Air Force Base, Turkey; Carl Plair, transportation agent, Coast Guard, Portsmouth, Va.; Lorraine Zuchowski, traffic management specialist, Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia, Pa.; and Jason Spencer, traffic management specialist, Fleet Operations. Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Dallas, Texas.

Mitch Chandran, Public Affairs Specialist SDDC Headquarters