Captain from Sheppard to receive Sijan award Published July 8, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Capt. Thomas Eckel, 366th Training Squadron Detachment 3, received the Lance P. Sijan Award June 29 for demonstrating a high quality of leadership in his job and life. Captain Eckel is currently the Nuclear Ordnance Division officer at the Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal here, where he leads 14 military and civilian instructors and more than 90 students. He is also the deputy commander for the detachment in charge of 40 staff members and about 200 students. The captain has a full resume of leasership roles solidifying this award. In 2008, he was sent on a six-month deployment to Iraq in addition to three months of pre-deployment training, he said. "The biggest sacrifice is being away from my family and missing my four kids growing up," Captain Eckel said. "I just returned from a nine-month deployment and missed the entire 2008-2009 school year. My family makes the biggest sacrifice, as does any deployed military member's family,". While in Iraq, he was the operations officer for Weapons Intelligence Teams throughout the country. "It is a great honor to just be nominated for this award and is truly a shock to actually have won. It's a reflection of the great people I work with in explosive ordinance disposal and the support of my family both when I'm home and deployed," Captain Eckel said. "I feel I earned this award because my of troops and their accomplishments while deployed as well as my involvement with my family and their activities." The Sijan award isn't just about great leadership; it's awarded to those involved in the community as well. "Most of my volunteer work comes as I do things with my family when I'm home between deployments. I have coached YMCA soccer for the last two years and will be an assistant coach this fall for the city league. I get involved in many of my family's activities as well, like Brownies and Cub Scouts," the captain said. Criteria for this prestigious award include scope of responsibility, professional leadership, leadership image and community involvement.