Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii recognized eleven exceptional individuals and two teams, a total of 74 federal employees, at its annual command awards ceremony April 27.

This year's awards program selected one winner for each of five individual and one team category. All employees were nominated based on their work efforts in 2014.

"All of the men and women at NAVFAC Hawaii do exceptional work for our supported commands and the warfighter every day," said NAVFAC Hawaii Commanding Officer Dean Tufts. "Choosing just one person or just one team in each category is almost impossible. That said, I am extremely proud of those we recognized today as our very best. They consistently perform at the highest level and truly make a difference for our military forces in Hawaii."

NAVFAC Hawaii's winners are:

Jeffrey T. Arizumi - 2015 Employee of the Year (Leader/Supervisor/Manager) - Arizumi is a Mililani resident and a supervisory interdisciplinary engineer/architect. He was responsible for 40 projects in addition to his supervisory duties due to vacancies. Arizumi also managed 25 short-fused underfunded critical projects. He successfully dealt with a 50 percent staff attrition by spreading the workload to himself and his coworkers to meet mission requirements and timelines. Arizumi rewarded employee exceptional performance with awards. He encouraged frequent face-to-face and telephonic communications with stakeholders in design, construction, acquisition, financial management, and supported commands. Arizumi executed his duties at the highest level despite challenges, leadership, and personnel turnover.

Alan T. Furushima - 2015 Employee of the Year (Professional, Administrative & Technical) - Furushima is a resident of Honolulu and an architect. He contributed to the command's mission by conscientiously designing sustainable facilities while preserving their historical integrity. Furushima improved inter-office technological procedures to increase productivity and efficiency. He educated his colleagues with time-saving strategies to enable work to flow in a more efficient manner. Furushima researched and delivered thorough and accurate design packages to NAVFAC Hawaii customers which were successfully executed. He demonstrated competent design management practices that reinforced a positive working relationship with Navy's private industry partners.

Senior Airman James Q. Jefferson - 2015 Employee of the Year (Trades & Crafts) - Jefferson is from Birmingham, Alabama, and is an electrical systems journeyman. He is a first responder to electrical fire issues. Jefferson generated back-up power, restoring service to 225 homes. He serviced 240 airfield lights for Rim of the Pacific 2014 airfield operations, increasing visibility by 40 percent. Jefferson conducted 155 fire alarm inspections, safeguarding 28,000 personnel and $4 billion in assets. He completed $1 million in preventative maintenance actions; inspecting 96 items and identifying 12 safety inaccuracies enabling immediate corrective actions to revitalize the power grid. Jefferson lead the Joint Base Freedom Tower lighting project retrofitting 8,000 bulbs and nine miles of electrical wire with the aim of slashing power consumption by 75 percent.

Robert Canino - 2015 Employee of the Year (Outstanding Mentor) - Canino is a Honolulu resident and a maintenance superintendent. He is a charismatic leader who encourages collaboration and fosters partnerships. Canino was directly involved in the blending of cultures and work ethics of 135 Airmen with a 330 blue collar civilian workforce. He forged a cohesive military/civilian team, capitalizing on safety, efficiency and best practices. Canino has reduced redundancies, reformed procedures and enhanced training opportunities. He has enabled his division to provide unparalleled service to customers covering 38,000 work orders (valued at $35 million) with a 94.3 percent on time rate, 42 construction projects ($7.7 million) and 87,000 preventative maintenance actions.

Francisco T. Cruzata - 2015 Employee of the Year (Exceptional Community Service) - Cruzata is a resident of Waipahu and an architect. He is the current President of the Filipino-American League of Engineers & Architects where he helps young professionals grow providing scholarships and mentoring opportunities. Cruzata was a two-term past President of the Bicol Club of Hawaii (a non-profit organization). He is currently an Ohana Medical Mission Group volunteer and will perform as an aide worker providing logistical and manpower support as the team travels throughout the Bicol Region of the Philippines distributing aid, and surgical and dental assistance. Cruzata willingly uses his personal leave and funds to join the current mission.

Invasive Species Response Team - 2015 Team Excellence Award - This 34-member team has been extremely involved in the discovery and eradication of the invasive Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle that was found on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Mamala Golf Course last year. The beetle has devastated the coconut trees on Guam in less than 10 years and the team here in Hawaii has been working over 500 hours servicing/maintaining 90 traps throughout the base and surrounding communities. The group has effectively treated more than 1,500 cubic yards of green waste with an innovative in-vessel composting unit built using local and purchased parts. This in-vessel burning process has a potential savings of $1.5 million per year as compared to other recognized disposal techniques.

In addition to receiving plaques from NAVFAC Hawaii, these outstanding employees were submitted to the Honolulu-Pacific Federal Executive Board's (FEB) 59th annual Excellence in Federal Government Awards Program. On May 1, they will be individually acknowledged and receive a certificate recognizing their important contributions to their federal agency from the FEB at the Hickam Air Force Base Officers' Club on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit www.navy.mil/.