NAVAIR Depot JAX employee awarded Joint Commendation Medal

By Daphne C. Burke, NAVAIR Depot JAX Public Affairs Specialist

In a recent ceremony, Renato Sciumbata was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal (JCM) for the successful completion of a four-year assignment with the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) at Camp HM Smith, Hawaii. Sciumbata, an aerospace engineer who works with the F/A-18 aircraft program, holds the rank of major in the United States Air Force (Active Reserve). The JCM was presented at the completion of the Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Integration 2002 Exercise and was pinned on by Sciumbata’s active-duty supervisor, Col. William A. Guinn, U.S. Army, Deputy for Logistics and Operations (USPACOM/J40L), on behalf of Adm. Dennis C. Blair, the Commander in Chief USPACOM.

Sciumbata, a Naval Air Depot Jacksonville (NAVAIR Depot JAX) employee since 1995, spent 13 years on active duty in the Air Force and has been an active-duty reservist for the past four years, reporting for active duty two weeks out of every year. His reserve time has been spent working with USPACOM, a joint-service command. The JCM culminates the completion of his tour as Munitions Staff Officer. “As Munitions Staff Officer, I was responsible for coordinating the logistics of munitions for the command, which extends security assistance to 29 countries in the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions,” said Sciumbata. “I also ensured that our exercises were as realistic as possible.” When the command’s munitions were depleted, he was responsible for re-supplying the command. He procured munitions supplies from multiple sources around the world including other commands and arsenals. He also helped develop munitions policies for the joint operations.

In addition to the JCM, Sciumbata was also presented with a unit coin by the Director for Logistics, Engineering, and Security Assistance, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Brian I. Geehan (USPACOM/J4). Unit coins are coveted symbols which represent a job well done. Sciumbata’s USPACOM tour is complete, and he has now been reassigned for reserve duty at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., where he will work for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisitions.

Photo Caption: Col. William A. Guinn (right) presents Renato Scuimbata with a Joint Commendation Medal certificate.

– USN –