JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – A special ceremony was held March 23 at the Eagle’s Pride Golf Course in Dupont to celebrate the induction of Mark Minickiello, vice president of Community Development for Harborstone Credit Union, into the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Civilian Hall of Fame.
Minickiello was presented with the LTG William H. Harrison Service Award after being nominated by the 62nd Airlift Wing for his tireless dedication to serving the Airmen stationed at JBLM.
Minickiello’s list of contributions to the McChord community is extensive. He secretaries the nonprofit Air and Space Force Association McChord Field Chapter #334 and educates the public on the importance of aerospace power and why the United States needs to support its service members.
Additionally, Minickiello participates in and supports numerous McChord Field fundraising events, and even secured Harborstone Credit Union’s support to contribute to Operation Warm Heart, which provides funds and food vouchers to Airmen, Air Force civilians and contractors during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season.
Serving the active-duty military community is a priority for Minickello. He himself served in the United States Air Force from 1984 to 1989 as an administration specialist. He was assigned to the 97th Services Squadron at Blytheville Air Force Base in Arkansas, and then the 39th Comptroller Squadron at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey.
During his enlistment, Minickiello earned the Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and he was nominated for the 1988 U.S. Air Forces Europe Airman of the Year.
After ending his active-duty career, he attended Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He began his career at JBLM with Harborstone in 2016, and he said he has been honored to assist service members ever since.
“Because of my prior service,” Minickiello said, “It really makes my passion and motivation to help service members even stronger.”
Minickiello’s name now joins an impressive list of fellow civilians who have been recognized for their contributions to the JBLM community for nearly the past 20 years.
The first induction ceremony for the Civilian Hall of Fame was held in 2004, but in 2015 the level of honor attached to the award was raised when it was named after Lt. Gen. William H. Harrison, who served as the commander of First Corps from 1987 to 1989. Harrison become the first mayor of the City of Lakewood in 1995 and was one of the first civilians to be inducted into the Civilian Hall of Fame.
Other previous inductees include Mary Findlay in 2018, who created the nonprofit “Suits for Service Members” that provided new or gently used business attire at no charge to service members to wear during civilian job interviews as they transitioned out of military service, and Janice Buckley in 2011 who founded “Heartbeat-Serving Wounded Warriors” in 2009 to offer emergency assistance and therapeutic services to multiple JBLM units.
2010 Civilian Hall of Fame inductee, retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 Michael Fried was present to witness Minickiello’s induction ceremony. He said being a part of the hall of fame is a cherished memory.
“Oh, the honor never goes away,” Fried said. “It was special to me then and it’s still special to me now.”
Minickiello said he was humbled to be considered among such lofted names.
“It is amazing to be a part of this and to be honest I’m still a little surprised,” Minickiello said. “I’m honored to be part of such a special group of people.”
Minickiello was presented with his award by Brig. Gen. William Ryan, deputy commanding general of First Corps, as well as Col. Phil Lamb, JBLM commander, and Col. David A. Fazenbaker, commander of the 62nd Airlift Wing.
“Mark Minickiello is a true representation of what this award means,” Fazenbaker said. “He deserves this moment of recognition, and I am proud to be a part of this ceremony.”
PHOTO: Civilian Hall of Fame inductee Mark Minickiello, center, was presented with the LTG William H. Harrison Service Award by, from left, Col. Phil Lamb, JBLM commander, Brig. Gen. William Ryan, deputy commanding general of First Corps, and Col. David A. Fazenbaker, commander of the 62nd Airlift Wing, during his induction ceremony at the Eagle’s Pride Golf Course in Dupont March 23. (Photo Credit: Pamela Sleezer, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Public Affairs)
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