Story and photo by Adolph A. Mitchell
NAVAIR PAO

“I wish to extend to you my sincere appreciation for your career-long contributions, which have resulted in great value and continuing benefits to Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and the Department of the Navy,” Rear Admiral Mark Skinner said, in presenting the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service award to Executive Associate, Carolyn M. Evans, in a surprise ceremony held at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Point Mugu, April 11, 2007.

A twenty-seven year civilian government employee, Evans expressed her surprise in receiving the award that was carefully kept a secret from her by telling her she was needed to “fix” the video teleconferencing equipment in the management information center. This was to conceal the fact that the small group of NAVAIR Point Mugu employees had gathered in her honor. “I never expected that a person who nags and cajoles would be rewarded with such a high honor,” Evans said, when it was obvious that she was the honoree for the prestigious award. Vice Admiral Dave Venlet, Commander, NAVAIR, who was present at the award presentation, commented to Carolyn that she was not considered a nag but a very integral part of the organization.

“When I think of the work Carolyn does here and the services she provides that earned this award, the word ‘more’ comes to mind,” Venlet said. “She does it with more style, more kindness. She does it with more effectiveness, more efficiency… the word ‘more’ is the superlative that appropriately defines her performance in this organization,” he said.

Evans first entered government service in Jacksonville, Fla., in 1969 as a GS-2 secretary. She met and married John Evans, a Naval aviator, early in her career. Over the next several years, they were assigned to various military installations throughout the United States, ending up at NAS Point Mugu in 1988. In her nineteen years of employment at Point Mugu, she has served four Executive Directors and five Vice Commanders during her tenure as Executive Office Manager and Executive Associate to the Director for Test and Evaluation.

“Carolyn is a person that makes my job easy,” says Steve Mendonca, the current Deputy Commander for Test and Evaluation who is Carolyn’s current ‘boss’. “She always takes care of the details that I just don’t think about. When she says something, you know it’s correct,” he continued. “She has a real knack for attention to detail and I can be confident her work is always well researched and complete.” Mendonca also spoke about Evans’ loyalty saying, “Carolyn is one of the most loyal persons you’ll ever meet.”

As the senior resource person at the Point Mugu site, Evans has had the occasion to mentor some of the younger and less experienced employees that worked for and with her over the years of her employment at Point Mugu. “For almost twenty years, I’ve witnessed Carolyn’s magical abilities to ‘take care of Navy business’, says Valarie Vine, Executive Office Manager of Range Operations and a co-worker of Evans for more than eighteen years. “Carolyn has the ability to put people at ease with her sense of humor, and offer sound advice, based on her extensive knowledge of the ‘Navy way’ of getting things done,” she said.

Patti Sauers, former Executive Officer Manager for the Director for Test & Evaluation, says of Evans, “I know I’m not alone in saying how much knowledge she’s passed on from her years of experience, from Admirals, managers and clerical personnel. Carolyn was always there with assistance and an answer whenever I needed it. If she didn’t have it, she would diligently go through web sites, instructions and other sources, until she found one,” she said.

Not one to be comfortable in the spotlight, Evans said she has always been content to be behind the scenes and was even reluctant to be interviewed for this story. “It certainly was a privilege and an honor to be recognized with this award. It came as a complete surprise and I’m truly honored,” she said.

Evans is now in the twilight of her career. She said she plans to retire in September and wants to travel as part of her activities. “Our immediate plan is to go to this wonderful little home in Tuscany, tucked in an Olive grove. It’s a charming 250-year-old former flourmill. I just love this little place on earth. It’s in a lovely area and a great location from which to make day trips all over Italy.” After that, she said she will return home to work in her garden, read and do all those leisure things people do in retirement.

Photo caption: Accompanied by Vice Admiral Dave Venlet, NAVAIR Commander, Carolyn Evans displays framed certificate of her Meritorious civilian service award presented to her in a surprise ceremony held at NAVAIR Point Mugu recently.

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