NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER WEAPONS DIVISION, CHINA LAKE, Calif. - Dan Toland, a Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division employee in the Integrated System Evaluation, Experimentation and Test Department, was honored with a Patriot Award by Terry Williams, a volunteer and representative of the California Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program, during a ceremony at China Lake on Feb. 12.

Of the ESGR series of honors, Patriot Awards are given to individual supervisors nominated by an employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve or spouse of a Guard or Reserve member recognizing support provided directly to the nominating service member and his or her family. The Patriot Award reflects efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leave of absence, if needed.

“Dan became my supervisor after I went to a five-month training event for the Army,” 2nd Lt. Charlotte Wilhelm wrote in her nomination of Toland. “He kept me informed and did any necessary calling or paperwork to ensure an easy return. I am about to leave again on a deployment. The suddenness of the deployment has been chaotic and he has worked with me every step of the way. I have the appropriate resources and time to complete both my job here as a federal employee and as a leader in the deploying unit due to Dan’s efforts.”