Instructor wins post's top award

Ronald Schumpf's association with the Army began when he was drafted during the Vietnam War.

Though he never saw combat, he spent four years as an electronics instructor in the Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth, N.J.

"As I got out, the school moved to Fort Gordon," he said. "Several months after I got out of the Army, I was hired on as a civilian employee to continue to work with the Signal School."

For 34 years, Mr. Schumpf has been a civilian employee with the Signal Corps at Fort Gordon and is now serving the division chief of switching, transmission and microwave systems for the 15th Signal Brigade and 551st Signal Battalion.

He oversees instruction within the division and helps to plan and develop training material.

"I feel good about what I do," he said. "I believe that I'm serving every service member that comes through by making sure that they receive good instruction and we produce the best possible Signal warrior that we can. By doing our part, we can ensure that these young recruits are able and ready to do their mission when they leave Fort Gordon."

Mr. Schumpf was recognized Dec. 15 as Fort Gordon's 2008 Civilian of the Year. He was chosen from the quarterly winners during the year. He was the Civilian of the Quarter for the fourth quarter.

"I was ecstatic when I found out I won the Civilian of the Year award," he said. "I feel really honored. I'm grateful to my bosses who thought enough of me to nominate me as a candidate for the award."

After 34 years as a civilian employee, Mr. Schumpf said, he is still excited about his job.

"I've been here a long time because I like being here," he said. "I enjoy what I do every day. I feel like I serve an important cause, and that energizes me."

Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.