Italian civilian receives exemplary service award

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 31st Fighter Wing public affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Danilo Gant, 31st Civil Engineer Squadron chief of NATO support, received the Exemplary Civilian Service Award from the 31st Fighter Wing commander June 2.

Brig. Gen. Craig Franklin, 31st FW commander, presented Mr. Gant the award for his distinguished performance as an external project coordinator for the 31st FW June 2007 to May 2009. The award is the highest award a civilian can receive from a base commander and is the fifth time an employee has received one at Aviano Air Base, Italy, in the past eight years.

Mr. Gant, a native of Aviano and 24-year employee at Aviano AB, was presented the award for his outstanding leadership and inter-personal and technical skills which significantly enhanced Italian-American relations in Italy. The citation General Franklin signed also noted Mr. Gant's actions being vital to the Italian coordination and approval of a $44 million construction program ensuring infrastructure excellence and wing mission accomplishment.

"Receiving this award is a great honor," said Mr. Gant. "It lets me know that all my work for the base has been worth it and I really appreciate that the leadership recognized it."

In 1985, Mr. Gant started out as a temporary draftsman and has worked throughout CE in engineering, planning, programming, and for the unit's deputy commander in his current position.

"Working with Americans the past 24 years has opened my mind and [provided] me a lot of tools I might not have learned otherwise," said Mr. Gant. "My experience working and living around Americans has enriched my life and has been a great opportunity. I've gotten to travel to places I had only seen in movies, such as the Pentagon. It really opened my mind to another world."

Some of Mr. Gant's involvement and interaction with the 31st FW and Italian officials has been as the NATO project programmer working on the Aviano 2000 Project and Defensive and Offensive Air, the Combined Mixed Commission dealing with facilities and infrastructure used by the U.S. on Italian military installations, the outdoor and indoor firing ranges, the Large Vehicle Inspection Station, as an interpreter for base senior leadership, and as a liaison on numerous other projects.