Highest SECNAV Civilian Award Given to NAS Key West Business Manager

KEY WEST, Fla. (NNS) -- In a surprise announcement during Naval Air Station Key West's Navy Birthday Ball Oct. 13, NAS' business manager was awarded the Secretary of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award.

NAS Key West Commanding Officer Capt. Patrick Lefere presented Ron Demes with the award, which is given annually to a small number of civilian employees nationally and is the highest honorary award the Secretary of the Navy can confer on a Department of the Navy civilian employee.

Demes earned the award for sustained distinguished service as NAS' business manager from July 2003 to January 2011.

"Mr. Demes' innumerable contributions made an invaluable difference to the Navy, the community and entire south Florida federal workforce," the award cites. "He executed numerous compatibility agreements with city and county governments to ensure mission sustainability into the future. His innovative cost-saving initiatives such as shared resources, mission consolidation, joint mitigation projects and Florida Defense Alliance grants provided for tens of millions of dollars in cost avoidance."

As commanding officer, Lefere has worked closely with Demes for more than two years and said he relies on Demes' knowledge when it comes to executing the mission of the air station.

"With his 29 years of experience on this installation starting in the Public Works Department and ultimately moving up to the senior civilian business manager position, Mr. Demes' sage advice and counsel are invaluable to me as commanding officer," said Lefere. "There is not another person on this Naval Air Station who has devoted more time and effort into ensuring we can complete our important mission. Ron pours his heart and soul into his job and this installation's superior capabilities and services are a direct result of his efforts."

Demes, a native of Edison, N.J., graduated Pennsylvania State University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. In 1983, he was hired by NAS Key West to serve as Public Works facilities planning engineer. After the reorganization of the department in 1986, he was promoted to director of engineering. In 2001, he filled the newly-created executive senior civilian position, director of planning, which was re-designated as business manager/executive director the following year.

Since that time, Demes has left an indelible stamp on both the air station and the community.

For the air station, Demes has served as an ex-officio member of the City of Key West Planning Board, City of Key West Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Local Redevelopment Authority, City of Key West Waterfront Advisory Board and Monroe County Planning Commission. He has been the Navy co-chair of the Restoration Advisory Board for environmental cleanup, Federal Incident Commander's senior qualified individual for Incident Command System execution and Key West Utility Coordination Board vice chairman.

During Demes' tenure as South Florida Federal Executive Board chairman he was awarded the Federal Executive Board Chairman of the Year Award by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Demes' community involvement includes serving as: Key West Military Affairs Committee president; Leadership Monroe County president; Society of American Military Engineers Key West Post president; Navy League Key West Council president; CROL Investment Club president; Sunrise Rotary Club board member, Community Service Committee Chair and Paul Harris Fellow; Propeller Club of the United States Port of Key West member; Arcturus Club member and Sigsbee Charter School Facilities Committee member. He is also an active member in his church serving as a trustee and on several committees.

While it may seem like Demes keeps a full calendar, he credits this involvement toward his success in helping the air station maintain its operational and readiness missions.

"In a small Navy town and close-knit city like Key West is, my work life became very integrated with my personal life and I always kept in touch with the many friends I made in the military," said Demes. "This added greatly to my ability to network within the greater military, federal, state and local communities as the years went on.

"As NASKW faced extremely formidable challenges, I was fortunate enough to work for at least 12 commanding officers that inspired me as part of their team to realize countless successes against unbelievable odds and extreme circumstances," he said.

His efforts over the years have not gone unnoticed. Demes has been awarded two Navy Superior Civilian Service Medals, four Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Medals, a Coast Guard Public Service Commendation, FEB Chairman of the Year, Society of American Military Engineers Recruitment Medal and two Sunrise Rotary Rotarian of the Year awards, among many other awards.

Upon receiving the pinnacle recognition, the SECNAV Distinguished Civilian Service Award, Demes thanked those leaders that allowed him to perform his job to the utmost of his abilities.

"I am extremely honored to be recognized by SECNAV and especially thankful for those who believed in supporting my endeavors to excel at doing the right thing no matter how unpopular the issue may have been," Demes said.

Receiving the award and being surprised with it at the Navy Birthday Ball, however, caught Demes off-guard, which is exactly how the commanding officer wanted it.

"It was an honor for me to present Mr. Demes with this prestigious award and especially to make it a surprise," said Lefere. "Not much happens on this base without Ron knowing about it...trust me."

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