Returning from a 15-month tour in Iraq during which time he was JWAC’s, ‘‘primary customer and advocate on staff” of III Corps, McDonald told employees, ‘‘We have a national element of combat power here at JWAC. Like everything else in the military, it’s a team effort and we are part of an awfully big team, the best team in the world, the United States military.”

One employee, Leslie Longtin, who spent seven months in Iraq last year, received the Achievement Medal for Civilian Service for ‘‘her key leadership in the development of effective and on-going lines of communication between JWAC and the (U.S.) military.” Working as a reconciliation analyst, Longtin’s ability to research, understand, study and interpret intelligence reports made her counsel highly valued and directly benefited the efforts of coalition forces.

Several other employees received certificates of commendation for their contributions, including Natasha Albert, Adrian Benson, Tom Crook, Jillian Harper, Ryan Jones, Kevin McAllister, Kendra Miller, Romona Rhodes, David Steele, and Kathryn Weaver.

In addition to these honors, Harper also received the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award from McDonald in January while the two were still in Iraq. Harper deployed to Iraq for nearly a year from March 2007 until February of this year. As JWAC’s senior analyst to the multinational forces there, she established a reputation for her strong work ethic and dedication. She directly benefited theater commanders and was a key leader in providing effective communication between JWAC and the U.S. military, according to her citation.