WEST POINT OFFICER AMONG MACARTHUR AWARD WINNERS – March 12, 2009
Captain Paul Lester, Class of 1996, an instructor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, is one of the 28 company grade officers, including six other academy graduates who were named.
“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized for my leadership accomplishments,” Lester said. “I am quite humbled to be selected. I am elated that I was able to represent junior officers from the United States Military Academy and the Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership in this way. I wish to thank my wife and family, students, fellow faculty, mentors, and the Soldiers I have served with over the years who helped me earn this prestigious award.”
Other academy graduates were Capts. Joshua M. Gaspard, Class of 2002; an incoming Department of Systems Engineering instructor; David A. Uthlaut, Class of 2001, a former First Captain and a future BS&L instructor; Kevin L. Hadley, Class of 2002; Neil A. Hollenbeck, Class of 2003; James C. Howell, Class of 2002 and Erik C. Oksenvaag, Class of 2000.
The MacArthur award is given annually to Army officers -- active, Guard and Reserve -- who exhibit extraordinary leadership abilities and embody the ideals embraced by MacArthur. Criteria for the award include the ability to motivate others, understand fellow soldiers and inspire commitment, teamwork and esprit de corps.
The award states that “these officers epitomize the ideals for which Gen. Douglas MacArthur stood: Duty, Honor and Country.”
The MacArthur Leadership Award program is jointly sponsored by the Army and the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation.
The awards will be given in Washington in May.
About West Point
West Point, The U.S. Military Academy, is a four-year co-educational federal undergraduate liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. The world's preeminent leader development institution, it was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering. Its mission remains constant-to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu