As we approach Memorial Day, GEICO is proudly recognizing five members of the United States military with its 2023 GEICO Military Service Awards. These awards serve as a tribute to the immeasurable sacrifices, unwavering dedication, and invaluable contributions of enlisted service members.
GEICO’s Military Service Awards, which have recognized members of the U.S. military since 1988, not only acknowledge the distinguished leadership commitment these individuals exemplify while in uniform, but also highlights the profound and lasting impact they make as engaged citizens within their local communities. Through their continued service and leadership, both in the military and beyond, these five awardees embody the spirit of selflessness and patriotism that defines the best of our nation's armed forces.
"When GEICO was founded as Government Employees Insurance Company in 1936, military members became our very first customers who trusted us to protect their most valuable belongings," said Lona Montgomery, GEICO’s Head of Agency Operations. "Supporting our service members has been a key part of GEICO’s history since our founding, and the GEICO Military Service Awards provide a special opportunity to honor those who have made sacrifices to defend our freedom."
The 2023 GEICO Military Service Award recipients are:
Sgt. Tia N. Johnson—United States Army
Sgt. Johnson devotes her time to support more than 74,000 veterans and family members at the Mt. Carmel Veterans Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., by providing food and essential items.
She also spends time with Gold Star families who have lost a loved one during active-duty service, specifically volunteering with the Gold Star Child Outdoor Initiatives. Sgt. Johnson’s work helped provide ten Gold Star families with a once in a lifetime fishing experience.
Along with assisting military families, Sgt. Johnson also enjoys working with children with disabilities. She helps make it possible for them to attend the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, one of the largest outreach initiatives between Fort Carson, Colo., where she’s stationed and the surrounding community.
While on-duty, Sgt. Johnson specializes in data science and supports an initiative that provides cutting-edge data analysis to help the army with decision-making.
Sgt. Travis E. Mann—United States Marine Corps
Sgt. Mann has joined the fight against hunger, volunteering countless hours packaging and distributing meals to homeless shelters through the Rise Against Hunger program. He also supports those experiencing homelessness by spending time with Miracle Messages, where his selfless actions led to the family reunification of more than 500 people.
Sgt. Mann’s volunteer work stretches to the international community as well. While stationed in Japan, he helped with local recovery efforts after severe flooding and mudslides displaced several Japanese families near his military base.
Sgt. Mann serves as an avionics technician instructor, teaching advanced avionics to entry level students. He’s well-respected for his technical knowledge and mentorship, and his students frequently complete their studies with some of the highest grade-point averages among enlisted Marines.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Ciara N. Farmer—United States Navy
Petty Officer Farmer uses her own personal journey to help inspire other women. She underwent a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, and while recovering, she founded the Emma B.A.M. (Bras after Mastectomies) Foundation to honor her grandmother, who lost her battle to breast cancer in 2012.
The Emma B.A.M. Foundation provides bras for women around the world who have undergone mastectomies or lumpectomies, helping to give both financial and emotional support.
Petty Officer Farmer also raises awareness for breast cancer by participating in speaking engagements, most notably at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where she emphasizes the importance of annual mammograms and self-exams.
On duty, Petty Officer Farmer serves as the leading petty officer for the supply department at the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory in Groton, Conn., where she oversees critical procurements. She also supports patients at the on-base medical and dental clinics and serves as a women’s sexual assault victim advocate for her entire naval installation.
Senior Airman Danielle Ziemba—United States Air Force
Senior Airman Ziemba demonstrates strong leadership, serving as Airman Council President over more than 500 of her peers. In this role, she organized a series of seminars on career progression, education, finances, and mentorship to support her fellow airmen.
Senior Airman Ziemba has focused on making an impact throughout the state of Arkansas as well. She led a tornado relief initiative, securing more than 1,500 essential items which were donated to more than 150 individuals recovering from this natural disaster.
She also managed a team that conducted an eight-week food drive to restock Arkansas’ only veteran-dedicated food pantry.
Along with helping veterans, Senior Airman Ziemba focuses on youth education as well. She led a team of volunteers who raised $24,000 to support the Central Arkansas Library System and the Arkansas Humanities Council.
While on duty, Senior Airman Ziemba is committed to safety. She designed a chemical management system for 131 maintenance shops, which led to her being selected as the Air Force’s Bioenvironmental Engineering Airman of the Year. Along with chemical management, Senior Airman Ziemba led efforts to update ventilation operating procedures, which resulted in the addition of 31 ventilation systems at Air Force installations.
Sgt. Yuji R. Moore—United States Space Force
Sgt. Moore has devoted countless hours using his technical expertise to help individuals with autism by partnering with an application development company to test specially adapted video chat software. His volunteer efforts and assistance with the testing has helped advance facial recognition technology, promoting accessibility for some 75 million people impacted by autism spectrum disorder.
Sgt. Moore also serves as an exemplary ambassador for the Space Force. He joined a leadership panel where he discussed culture and team building, providing mentorship for some 2,700 attendees from across the country.
Sgt. Moore’s volunteer efforts span across the international community as well. Between missions, he organized 12 volunteer events, sorting and delivering more than 6,000 pounds of food to a local resource center. His team's efforts effectively provided vital relief to 18,000 Ukrainian refugees.
While on duty, Sgt. Moore oversees critical intelligence operations. His leadership has earned him recognition as the Space Delta 7's Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award recipient and his team was awarded the United States Space Force's Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Small Team of the Year.
About GEICO
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company), the third-largest auto insurer in the U.S., was founded in 1936 and insures vehicles in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. GEICO, a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies, constantly strives to make lives better by protecting people against unexpected events while saving them money and providing an outstanding customer experience. Along with personal auto insurance, commercial auto and personal umbrella coverages are also available. Homeowners, renters, condo, flood, identity theft, term life, and more coverages are written through non-affiliated insurance companies and are secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, LLC. Visit GEICO.com for a quote or to learn more.
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