SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Three Schriever Airmen were nominated as finalists for the sixth annual Colorado Springs Mayor’s Young Leaders Award and will be recognized during a ceremony in December when the winner will be announced.
Tech. Sgt. John Camacho, 50th Security Forces Squadron lead investigator, Capt. Lauren Oglesby, 3rd Space Experimentation Squadron flight commander, and Maj. Louis Pagano, 21st Medical Squadron, director of psychological health, were all recognized as finalists in the military leader category, one of the six categories for young leaders in the Colorado Springs community.
Oglesby said she thinks this opportunity is a huge honor and it is fulfilling to be recognized for the hard work she’s done in the community.
“There's not a lot of recognition in volunteering, but that's not the reason you do it,” she said. “You do it because you want to give back and invest in your community. For me, all the stuff I do is for kids, so it's investing in the next generation and helping to build a better tomorrow.”
Camacho works with agencies around of Colorado Springs such as the Colorado Springs and El Paso Police Departments to the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms field offices ensuring crime trend analysis and intelligence is brought forward in the military community. He is also involved in the Colorado Military Academy and runs a non-profit program with his son supporting disadvantaged youths in sports.
“The job we do for the mission is important, but outside work shows how much impact Schriever Air Force Base has on the community,” Camacho said. “We are reaching out far and wide.”
Oglesby conducts mission planning for the 3rd SES and is responsible for squadron training, and is often a liaison on behalf of her squadron for large scale events. She involves herself in the community by working Operation Purple, a no-cost summer camp that provides opportunities to military children. She also coaches volleyball at Ellicott High School and tutors students in math and science.
“My leadership has been great about supporting community involvement and helping figuring out what steps we have to take to make it happen,” Oglesby said. “It's important that we give back to our community both in the military community and the community at large.”
Pagano and his team are responsible for mental health services for Schriever AFB service members. Pagano leads a team of four, and has dedicated more than 175 hours to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, as a co-group lead and group leader.
“I got involved with TAPS through our squadron’s key spouse, Melissa Hermosillo,” he said. “Her passion and drive to improve the quality of lives for our service members’ families inspired me to volunteer.”
According to the mayor’s office website, the program launched in 2015 to celebrate the outstanding achievements of young professionals 40 and under. Though the program has been in place for a couple years, this is the first time the military community in the Front Range was included in nominations.
“We make big impacts to the Colorado Springs community,” Camacho said. “It's awesome to see the leader of the city recognizing the military member’s involvement.”
Regardless of the outcome of the ceremony, the Schriever Airmen nominated have supported the community within and outside the installation. Camacho said the hardware won’t make the evening and all nominated will continue to serve the community.
“It's still an accomplishment to get a nod from the mayor's office,” Camacho said. “This is the first year [the city] is opening the award up to the military community, so it goes to show how much we care.”
The event is scheduled 4-6 p.m., Dec. 9, at the ENT Center for the Arts. The 30 finalists, all residing or working in Colorado Springs, are placed in six categories: Community and Economic Impact, Creative Industry, Education, Military Leader, Sports and Wellness, and Technology and Sustainability.