Timothy Uplinger, an environmental protection specialist assigned to Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Europe Africa and Southwest Asia (EURAFSWA) at Naval Station Rota, was selected as the 2017 Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Environmental Award winner for environmental quality-individual recognition.

"It is an extreme honor to be selected for this award," said Uplinger. "However, I cannot take full credit for this as it is the result of everyone at NAVSTA Rota doing their part to protect the environment and taking the extra step to recycle."

Uplinger manages multiple programs as the qualified recycling program (QRP) manager and environmental conservation manager. Uplinger is in charge of both natural and cultural resources management.

Due in large part to the well-managed QRP and environmental conservation programs on the installation, NAVSTA Rota received the 2016 Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and SECNAV environmental awards for Environmental Quality - Overseas Installation.

"Protecting the environment is a group effort and I want to see all of the environmental programs that we have here succeed," said Uplinger. "I want to make sure that the information that I know about a program is passed on and this way others can learn from my mistakes."

Uplinger has not just excelled at his own work but taught others from his experience and lessons learned. His efforts have significantly reduced the amount of solid waste being disposed of in landfills and greatly increased the volume of materials being recycled and reused, with high corresponding cost savings and revenue to the government. His programs and initiatives support military readiness.

As a valuable asset to the overall environmental program at NAVSTA Rota, Uplinger has improved all of the programs he has managed including: solid waste/recycling; natural and cultural resources and environmental planning. The benefits from the improvements he originated will extend into the future, far beyond his years working at NAVSTA Rota.

"The base now diverts roughly 70 percent of our trash to recycling compared to less than 50 percent a few years ago," said Uplinger. "Doing this saves the government money by not having to pay to dispose of the material. My goal is to make sure that the work that we do on base has a minimal effect on these natural and cultural resources while still ensuring that the Navy's mission can be accomplished."

Uplinger has greatly enhanced community environmental outreach, particularly in the recycling program and "earth week" having saved and generated an estimated $3.85 million dollars in waste reduction, increased recycling, and natural and cultural resources conservation.

Naval Station Rota enables and supports operations of U.S. and allied forces and provides quality services in support of the fleet, fighter and family for Commander, Navy Installations Command in Navy Region EURAFSWA.

Just as a ship performs lines of operation that provide a capability, Navy Region EURAFSWA bases perform the same eight lines of operation to provide capability to the fleet and joint and allied forces. These eight lines of operation are: air operations, port operations, safety, security, MWR, Fleet and Family Services and what is called the core; the fuels, water and power that keep the bases running. Through our lines of operation, our installations are force multipliers that maximize the combat capability of operational units.

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For more news from Naval Station Rota, Spain, visit www.navy.mil/.