Naval Station Everett has announced its recipients of the Civilian of the Quarter awards for the third quarter of 2004.

Sgt. Armando Batinga, a NAVSTA Everett DOD supervisory police officer took the Mount Rainier award (supervisory) and Karen Lawrence, Navy College Office education technician, received the Mount Baker award (non-supervisory).

Batinga, a native of the Philippines, has been spent 19 years as a DoD employee. He got his start as a supervisory criminal investigator at Subic Bay Naval Station in the Philippines. He worked there for almost 17 years until the base was decommissioned.

“I migrated to the United States in 1996 and had to wait five years to receive my citizenship,” said Batinga. “One I had it I applied for a DoD police officer position here at NAVSTA Everett.”

It took Batinga just 17 months to earn the rank of sergeant. He soon took up the leadership reins as Everett’s DoD police supervisor.

“Sgt. Batinga is the first DoD supervisor that Everett has ever had,” said Cecil Williams, NAVSTA Everett’s assistant security officer. “That has put a lot of pressure on him but he’s a man of both strong convictions and strong character.”

“He leads by example,” said Williams. “He has a flawless record and he won’t ask anyone to do something he wouldn’t do himself.”

“Adversity doesn’t rattle him. Everyday he uses tact, diplomacy, alertness, foresight, skill and good common sense. And not necessarily in that order,” he said. “When you demonstrate those attributes and maintain them with a level of consistency, how can people be against you?”

Batinga acknowledges that he’s spent a great deal of time listening and learning from his co-workers.

“I have worked hard to develop and enhance a good working relationship with my fellow DoD police officers,” Batinga said.

When not working on his professional relationships, Batinga says he comes home to Alicia, his wife of 36 years. Together they’ve had four children.

He says he enjoys spending time at home.

“I enjoy jogging and doing yard work, Batinga said.

Karen Lawrence, who’s worked at the Navy College Office for the past eight years, describes herself as “dependable.”

“I like to consider myself very reliable,” Lawrence said. “I enjoy dealing with students and supporting the Navy personnel here.”

Among her responsibilities, Lawrence takes care of the office’s administrative issues, processes students’ tuition assistance, and works as the alternate test control officer.

While Lawrence’s modesty wouldn’t allow her to openly speak about her job performance, that didn’t stop her boss from doing it for her.

“Karen is the best as far as I’m concerned,” said Navy College Office Director, Judith Sternhagen. “Anyone would be ecstatic to have her running the office. She’s the frontline person who takes care of people when they come into the office. She’s always very pleasant.”

“There’s nothing I can give her that she can’t handle,” Sternhagen added.

That includes organizing and managing several regional education fairs that took place at military installations and ships within the past quarter.

“Karen took care of all the base access issues and made sure everyone got on the facilities without any hassles,” said Sternhagen.

Lawrence, a native of Lincoln, Neb., says when she’s not working, she enjoys reading and spending time with her 16-year-old daughter, Jenna.

“She keeps me very busy,” Lawrence said with a smile.  “Over the past year, she’s gotten me to become a big Everett Silvertip fan.”