NOTE: This release was sent from Wackenhut, a Knoxville Chamber member business.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.—Wackenhut Services’ Oak Ridge Team recently achieved a second place overall finish in the annual Security Protection Officer Training Competition (SPOTC) held at the Department of Energy National Training Center in Albuquerque, N.M.
The Team was also awarded the prestigious Competitors’ Choice Award, which is voted on by all participants and honors the team with the most professionalism, spirit and sportsmanship.
"We congratulate the Oak Ridge Wackenhut Team on yet another outstanding performance," said Gerald Boyd, Manager of the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Office. "The Team's high placement in the competition is indicative of the outstanding work Wackenhut does in Oak Ridge every day."
Ted Sherry, Manager of the National Nuclear Security Administration's Y-12 Site Office, said, "This is a tough competition -- it requires the very best skills of the security police officers who take part in this annual event. We are very proud of Wackenhut's performance in this competition and appreciate the important work of the men and women who protect our national security assets in Oak Ridge."
The WSI-OR Team was led by coaches Tim Ford and Lynn Bales and captain T.J. Fromberger. Other team members are: Matthew Carroll, Brad Carter, Steve Constant, Tony Stephens and Neal Wolfenbarger.
The competition included DOE security forces, law enforcement agencies, and military units from around the country, in addition to a team of nuclear security professionals from Canada.
Team events included shooting rifles and handguns, pushing vehicles, ascending towers, casualty evacuation, crossing obstacles, and running varying distances. Some stages of the competition required the team to don full-face respirators while negotiating obstacles, shooting, and running.
“Although I am very proud of our Team’s second place-overall performance in this very difficult competition, I feel that the Competitors’ Choice Award is the highest honor a team can be awarded at SPOTC and it is that achievement that I am most proud of,” said John Burleson, WSI-OR General Manager. “Our team’s dedication and professionalism was recognized by their competition and that says a lot about how they conduct themselves and carry out their mission. They should all be very proud of themselves for achieving this excellence.”
Wackenhut and its approximately 1000 employees provide the para-military Protective Force for the Oak Ridge Reservation, which includes the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the East Tennessee Technology Park, the Federal Office Building Complex and the Y-12 National Security Complex.
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