2011 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

The Anchorage Division is pleased to honor Covenant House Alaska for its services to homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth.

For more than 22 years, Covenant House Alaska has grown from an emergency shelter for children in crisis into a provider of a multitude of services that assist and guide Alaska’s young people to achieve self-sufficiency.

In 2010, Covenant House Alaska provided free clothing, medical attention, and shelter to more than 2,500 Anchorage youth. The organization promotes positive values and encourages children to believe in themselves, achieve goals, and reach their full potential.

Covenant House Alaska has been an essential partner of the FBI regarding Innocence Lost Task Force and human trafficking cases. Covenant House Alaska has consistently made human trafficking training available to its staff so they are better able to recognize, help stop, and report recruiting efforts that may occur in and around its facilities.

The Covenant House Alaska team has been supportive of victims residing at its facilities and encourages their cooperation with law enforcement. Staff members have helped the FBI identify and locate possible victims in human trafficking cases. Covenant House Alaska goes above and beyond in its efforts to work with law enforcement while protecting the confidentiality and trust of children.

FBI Director Presents Award to Columbus Global Academy

In a ceremony at FBI Headquarters on Friday, March 16, 2012, Robert S. Mueller, III, the Director of the FBI, formally presented the Columbus Global Academy with the 2011 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. Mrs. Kimberly Normand, Principal of the Columbus Global Academy, accepted the award in Washington, D.C. on behalf of the teachers and staff at the school.

During the ceremony, Director Mueller recognized the award recipients from each of the FBI’s 56 field offices, stating, “You share a willingness to lead...a commitment to improving your neighborhoods...and a desire to make this country safer for your fellow citizens.” He went on to say, “You are catalysts for change in your communities, and what you are doing is nothing short of remarkable.”

FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Hanko stated, “Each day the FBI relies on key partnerships to help keep our communities safe. The staff, teachers and students at the Columbus Global Academy are tremendous partners that we are pleased to recognize.”

The Columbus Global Academy is a unique English as a Second Language (ESL) school for recent immigrant and refugee students who have limited English abilities. A part of the Columbus City School District, the school serves approximately 470 middle and high school students from over 50 different native countries.

Many of the students at the Columbus Global Academy have recently arrived in the United States from refugee camps or countries torn apart by war, famine, or natural disasters. Though the students often have little formal education and face many challenges, the faculty and staff at the Columbus Global Academy work hard to create a positive learning environment.

Mrs. Normand and the teachers at the Columbus Global Academy have also welcomed the Cincinnati FBI as a partner with the school. For the past three years, the Cincinnati Division has held an FBI Teen Academy at the school, participated in career day presentations, and served on the school’s Community Advisory Council. The division has worked with students in an effort to mentor at-risk youth who may be more vulnerable to radicalization, gang membership, or other unlawful activity.

The Director’s Leadership Community Award was established in 1990 to publicly recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond the call to service by making extraordinary contributions to their communities in the areas of terrorism, cyber, drug, gang, or violence prevention and education.

2011 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

The Seattle Division is pleased to honor Mr. Paul Bascomb, chair of the African-American Community Advisory Council to the Seattle Police Department (SPD) Coalition. His leadership has led to advances in cooperation between the African-American community and law enforcement.

Through his work, Mr. Bascomb has advocated and practiced patience, communication, and understanding to resolve conflicts. He is an outstanding example of how the development of personal relationships can erase perceptions and enhance communication.

Mr. Bascomb has played an integral role in organizing opportunities for African-American community leaders to advise the SPD about crime prevention, public safety, and concerns the community has about law enforcement. He has also promoted and encouraged cultural competency training for officers while expanding the community’s understanding of the practices and policies of the police department. Mr. Bascomb encourages youth and the SPD to develop healthy relationships through events and workshops that promote public safety. He is also an advocate for police recruitment in the African-American community.

Mr. Bascomb is a 2011 graduate of the FBI’s Citizens Academy and is a member of several local boards and organizations. He was the chair for Project Self-Sufficiency at the Young Women’s Christian Association of Seattle and the committee chair of human resources for the Central Area Youth Association, a Seattle non-profit agency offering tutoring, athletics, life skills, adult programs, and a computer lab.

2011 Denver Division Director’s Community Leadership Award

The FBI Denver Division is proud to announce Mr. Allan Wick as the recipient of the Denver Director’s Community Leadership Award for 2011. The outstanding contributions demonstrated by Mr. Wick for service to his community are astounding. As a leader in Colorado’s security industry, he demonstrates a strong and sustained commitment to building safer communities through crime prevention and critical infrastructure protection. His outreach and leadership in Colorado and beyond is promoting lasting relationships with government, private sector businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement, and other participants dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the United States.

Mr. Wick has achieved extraordinary results within the programs he initiated and built for the future. His influence in the FBI InfraGard program has developed a relationship of trust and credibility in the exchange of information concerning various terrorism, intelligence, criminal, and security matters.

InfraGard brings together representatives from the private and public sectors to help protect our nation’s critical infrastructure—both virtual and physical—from attacks by terrorists and criminals.

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2010 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

In Dallas, Christina Yampanis is devoted to bringing community involvement to law enforcement by encouraging crime awareness, prevention, and education. Through her work with the North Texas Crime Commission and other volunteer efforts, she has effectively promoted community awareness and the FBI.

Ms. Yampanis is a participant in the Dallas Mayor’s Council on Morals and Values conference and the Mayor’s Back to School Fair for underprivileged children, and is involved with the Denton State School residential facility for adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. She volunteers monthly at the Austin Street Homeless Shelter and is the co-chair for the Salvation Army Angel Tree program, which provides Christmas presents to needy children and the elderly.

By working with the North Texas Crime Commission, she has also helped further law enforcement awareness. The North Texas Crime Commission promotes community involvement in supporting federal, state, and local law enforcement. The commission works to keep communities safe by increasing communication between the arenas of law enforcement, business, education, government, the media, and all citizens. The cooperative, comprehensive effort involves concerned citizens like Ms. Yampanis and highlights the motto, “Fighting Crime is Everyone’s Business.”

Thunderbird Award

NBK Commanding Officer Receives Thunderbird Award


By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Maebel Tinoko, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Northwest

April 9, 2010 - BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- Naval Base Kitsap's (NBK) commanding officer was presented the 2010 Chief Thunderbird Award by the Bremerton, Wash., Chamber of Commerce at a ceremony April 8 at the Kitsap Golf and Country Club in Bremerton.

Capt. Mark Olson, NBK's commanding officer, received the award for his significant involvement with the Kitsap County community.

According to Scott Bosch, past president of Bremerton Chamber of Commerce, the award's history dates back to 1968, when it was first awarded to the captain of USS Puget Sound (AD 38) for his crew's impact on Bremerton and Kitsap County.

"Each year we select four different people from the community to award, and we thought Capt. Olson would be the best recipient to represent the Navy," said Frank Gentile, operations manager from Bremerton Chamber of Commerce. "We appreciate what he does for the community and the Navy for continuing to do great things in our community."

Chief Thunderbird Award recipients are selected by the past presidents and current board of directors of the Bremerton-area Chamber of Commerce. The selection criteria includes, serving in a leadership position, making positive contributions to the community and being an exemplary role model.

Sonny Loidhamer, chief executive officer from United Moving and Storage; Comedian Cris Larsen; and Hariette Bryant, from Kitsap Young Women's Christian Association, were also presented awards during the ceremony.

Olson was awarded for his continuous engagement with community services. Olson manages 11 programs in community volunteerism such as the school outreach program, Starbase Atlantis, for young scientists. He is also the advocate for 11 strategic community alliances, including the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council, Kitsap Economic Development Alliance, the Governor's Hood Canal Restoration Council and Bremerton's United Way Chapter.

"It's a tremendous honor, and I am humbled to receive this award," said Olson. "We are partners with the community, and it's important to keep our relationship strong."