Andrea Freeman, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southeast command information officer, received the Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award by NAVFAC Southeast Commanding Officer Capt. Jorge Cuadros during an awards ceremony held onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, May 17.

The Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award is an honorary award given by a local Navy activity to civilian employees for service or contributions resulting in high-value or benefit to the Navy.

“Receiving the Meritorious Civilian Service Award was quite a surprise,” said Freeman. “It meant that leadership recognized the dedication and hard work, and appreciated the self-sacrifice that my team and I have put into providing quality customer support and exceptional IT service to the entire command.”

Freeman supported NAVFAC Southeast’s ability to maintain infrastructure cybersecurity resilience by leading her team in prioritizing, planning and delivering through a complex Risk Management Framework (RMF) that culminated in the command obtaining its first RMF authority to operate (ATO).

RMF is a process that takes into account cost versus benefit while reducing risk to implement cybersecurity.

“An RMF ATO means that cybersecurity measures have been put into place and we have been granted approval to operate a system,” said Freeman. “Having a site package allows us to move systems into a secure environment once they have achieved an ATO.”

Cybersecurity is not her only focus. Freeman was also recognized for establishing the command’s first Secure Internet Protocol Network (SIPRNET) workstation, deploying over 320 iPhones to the workforce, and developing a highly successful User Feedback Report for the annual Defense Equal Opportunity Climate Survey (DEOCS).

Most recently, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the requirement for widespread telework, Freeman consolidated her team around a common goal of providing the workforce with the tools and equipment necessary for employees to work from home and conduct virtual meetings through Microsoft Teams.

Freeman stated, “The CIO department is constantly evolving and we aim to provide the same, if not better, level of support and service for cybersecurity.”