There is a 70 percent divorce rate among enlisted Sailors. That statistic alone was all the motivation Rangell Wallen needed to do her job. Now, as the Family Service Center site manager, Wallen was named the Navy Region Northwest Civilian of the Year (CoY) Oct. 13 at the Fleet and Family Information Center located at Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) at Bangor.

“She recognized a problem on her own and brought the idea of how to fix it to the forefront,” said Michael Sarkovitz, executive director of commander, Navy Region Northwest. “You can’t imagine the impact she has had on the Ohio and the great impact she has had on the region in helping to eliminate domestic violence.”

Wallen was an integral part of USS Ohio (SSGN 726) garnering the Domestic Violence Prevention award from the Kitsap county domestic violence task force. She would frequently meet with Sailors from the boat and explain the role of Counseling, Advocacy and Preventative Services (CAPS). For her work with the CAPS program, her former supervisor said it was a no-brainer that Wallen was selected.

“I thought the program she devised and spearheaded was significant and really a model for the Ohio,” said Beverly Barron, chief of Clinical Services/Family Advocacy Representative, West Sound (CAPS). “She combined what we do with command leadership to form a team to reduce and eradicate domestic violence and she’s made a forceful change.”

Capt. Reid Tanaka, commanding officer, Naval Base Kitsap, was on hand to present the award on behalf of the Region Commander, Rear Adm. William French. Tanaka said he is proud to have Wallen as a member of the NBK team, as she was also named the NBK CoY earlier this year.

“Naval Base Kitsap won the Commander in Chief’s Award for Installation Excellence and a vital reason for our selection was the hard work that Rangell Wallen has done,” Tanaka said.

But Wallen admits that she never wanted the recognition she has received in the past year. She said it’s only a passion to end domestic violence and to lower the divorce rate among military members that drives her everyday. Being married to a Sailor, she knows times can become difficult and stressful, but she wants all married couples to know that violence does not belong in any household.

“I want to bring the numbers down. If you have domestic violence anywhere, you won’t have a great marriage, it’s that simple,” Wallen said. “But to be recognized for this is an honor and I’m truly speechless. I’m so thankful that the commands trusted me and we really had a great working relationship and kept the doors of communication open. I’m just very proud to represent Naval Base Kitsap and the region.”