140th Wing member recognized by Gov. Ritter

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Cheresa D. Theiral
  • Colorado National Guard Public Affairs
ARVADA, Colo. --  A member of the 140th Wing, Colorado Air National Guard, was recognized as a top achiever by Gov. Bill Ritter in a ceremony Oct. 15.

State Top Achievement Recognition (STAR) awards, are highly coveted prizes earned by a handful of those whose knowledge and skills stand over and above their civil service peers.

Chuck Grube, manager of the air traffic control tower at Buckley Air Force Base, earned the STAR Manager/Supervisor of the Year Award. Grube is responsible for the supervising all other air traffic controllers at the facility, as well as developing local
procedures and coordinating with surrounding air traffic control facilities. In addition to meeting this challenge on a daily basis, he is also charged with recruiting, maintaining and motivating his staff and ensuring 100 percent mission accomplishment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Approximately 100 state employees or teams were nominated for 2008 STAR awards. Of those, only six actually received awards, and two of them were Colorado National Guard employees.

Many state employees refer to the STAR awards as the state equivalent to the Academy Awards, because the likelihood of receiving either one is very small, said Janelle Darnell, executive assistant to the Adjutant General of Colorado.

STAR awards culminate all other State of Colorado employee recognition activities during the month of October, which Ritter recently named Employee Recognition Month.

State of Colorado is the largest single employer in the state, employing more than 55,000 employees statewide.