MCA Ground Awards Dinner

Marine Corps Association Ground Awards Dinner
27 May 2009

The MCA Ground Awards Dinner is held in conjunction with HQMC Plans, Policies and Operations Department and serves as the annual opportunity to recognize the professional achievements of the Corps' top performing ground combat arms leaders. The dinner features a prominent leader from top level Marine Corps leadership as the guest speaker. Awards presented at the dinner include the following:

Marine of the Year for each of the four Marine Divisions presented to the selected Marine NCO
The Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership presented to the selected Marine Captain in command of a company or battery size unit
The Chambers Award for Outstanding Leadership presented to the selected company grade officer in the Marine Reserve component
The Hulbert Award for Outstanding Leadership by a Marine Gunner

The MCA Ground Awards Dinner on 27 May 2009 was held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott and featured General Alfred M. Gray, USMC (Ret) 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps as the featured speaker.

Here are some photos of the event taken by MCA Staff Photographer Ron Lunn:

Commemorative Coin sponsored by General Dynamics and provided to all the dinner Guests
Ground Awards (L-R) Hulbert Award, Leftwich Trophy, Chambers Award flanked by Marine NCO Swords in Shadow boxes for Marine of the Year recipients.
Crowd Shot of VIP Reception	Color Ceremony at commencement of the dinner
General Al Gray in his world famous and highly coveted MARINE Shop tailored sport coat presenting key note address and receiving the thanks of MCA's President for taking the time from his schedule to present.
MCA President and CEO, MajGen Les Palm, USMC (Ret) welcoming guests and making administrative remarks to commence the dinner
Colonel Walt Ford, USMC (Ret) Editor of Leatherneck Magazine and master of ceremonies for the award presentations	1st Marine Division Marine of the Year, Sgt Robert M. Riedel pictured with 1st Mar Div Commandging General, MajGen Thomas Waldhauser and also with Mrs Riedel. Award of Marine NCO Sword in shadow box sponsored by Battelle.
2nd Marine Division Marine of the Year, Sgt Daniel K. Gyamfi in a picture with family and in another with BGen Joseph Osterman, Assistant Commanding General, 2nd Marine Division. Award of Marine NCO Sword in shadow box sponsored by L3 Communications.	3rd Marine Division Marine of the Year, Cpl Travis G. Westbrook in award presentation picture with MajGen Robert Neller, Commanding General 3rd Marine Division and in another picture with family members and executive from award sponsor ITT.
4th Marine Division Marine of the Year, Sgt Samuel P. Baumgartner pictured with MajGen James L. Williams, Commanding General 4th Marine Division and in another picture with executives from General Dynamics who sponsored the award.	Major Jonathan B. Hamilton, recipient of the 2008 Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership along with General Al Gray, and BGen Joseph Osterman.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew T. Carpenter, recipient of the 2008 Hulbert Award for Outstanding Leadership by a Marine Gunner pictured with General Al Gray, MajGen Waldhauser and award sponsor executives from Nammo Talley. CWO3 Carpenter with Family.	Captain Joseph C. Maher, recipient of the 2008 Chambers Award for Outstanding Leadership by a Company Grade officer in the Marine Reserve Component along with MajGen James Williams and an executive from Booz Allen Hamilton, the award sponsor. Captain Maher with Family.