The FAPAC Uniformed Services Awards recognize and honor members of the Uniformed Services which include the armed forces, commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and the commissioned corps of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration.
The award is presented during the FAPAC National Leadership Training Program (NLTP). The NLTP is held each year in the month of May to coincide with Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Performance Period: 2020 Fiscal Year (Oct 1, 2019 to Sept 30, 2020) or Calendar Year (Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2020)
Congratulations to the 2020 Uniformed Services Award WinnersLieutenant Lu Wang, U.S. Navy ![]() As training officer for a medical/dental clinic, LT Wang organized and conducted over 20 trainings, totaling over 50 hours, for 25 staff members in areas such as suicide awareness, financial literacy, sexual harassment, and equal opportunity. As the guest speaker for the Asian and Pacific American Heritage Event in May 2019, she shared her experience growing up as an Asian American and how it influenced her to join the U.S. Navy. She is a regular volunteer with Serving Seniors, a charity and community center dedicated to feeding, housing, and providing necessary services for low income senior citizens. She is a valuable member of the community and stellar ambassador for the U.S Navy wherever she goes. MSgt Travis Bulay, U.S. Air Force ![]() Master Sergeant Bulay partnered with the Equal Opportunity Office to develop an unconscious bias course designed specifically for senior leaders to view how their actions were perceived by others from different socio-economic backgrounds and challenged them to foster a climate that embraced diversity. The pilot class hosted 19 officers and senior enlisted leaders and improved workplace cohesion through the unit. He led a team of 80 Senior Noncommissioned officers in concert with the USO to give back to junior enlisted service members, resulting in 205 Thanksgiving meal baskets. He also inspected 136 housing units for mold or disease carrying vermin and pests. Sergeant Bulay pinpointed five hazards throughout the homes and worked with the servicing agencies to eliminate the danger and secure safe living conditions for all. As the committee lead for the base Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Sports day, his diverse team created an event to raise awareness of sexual assaults. Over 200 participants attended the event and it raised awareness and advocated for prevention to eliminate assaults. Master Sergeant Timothy Tanbonliong, U.S. Air Force
Staff Sergeant Michael Jolls, U.S. Air Force ![]() SSgt Jolls was the primary coordination liaison between 210 staff members, 460 military students, and five joint-service units. He supervised language instruction, mentoring students through difficult language and culture training, and instilling a love of Asian cultures. He facilitated five Chinese culture clubs, providing enjoyable cultural immersion for 100 students. He befriended local restaurant owners to establish informal opportunities for students to practice speaking in Chinese, and improved military-civilian relationships. He organized 110 volunteers for a language showcase, managed personnel for a base-wide event attended by over 2,000 local civilians, and demonstrated authentic Asian and Middle-Eastern cultural celebrations. He recruited 140 Asian language instructors and students to compete in a state-wide speech exhibition, in which participants wrote and presented speeches in the Chinese language. Entrants he prepared won 48 awards, including nine first-place wins for their categories. SSgt Jolls planned two culture immersions, managing a $180,000 budget, and preparing 16 students to visit Taiwan for intensive four-week language training classes. He planned 13 graduation ceremonies for 446 joint-service military students, served as master of ceremonies for three of them, and showcased the graduates’ mastery of the Mandarin Chinese language for over 1,500 attendees. Technical Sergeant Sarahlizamarie D. Pante-Berrios, U.S. Air Force
Lieutenant John R. Santorum, U.S. Coast Guard
Lieutenant Commander Rhianna Macon, U.S. Coast Guard ![]() As an avid member of Coast Guard Academy Minority Outreach Team (AMOT), LCDR Macon completed the Coast Guard Academy (CGA) Partners on-site training in New London, CT and consistently volunteered her time to serve as a link between the CGA admission team and prospective Asian American applicants. The CGA admission staff routinely contacted her to speak with apprehensive recruits and parents, providing a personal touch to the Academy’s recruiting efforts. LCDR Macon played a vital role in furthering the Academy’s strategic goal of cultivating an inclusive environment by serving as one of the AMOT-Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) assistant coordinators. She achieved historic milestones in this role and made CGA history for the highest number of Asian American Academy graduates ever. The CGA Class of 2019 graduated 34 AAPI officers, who now serve with distinction in the fleet. She also directly impacted the freshman class of 2023 which is comprised of the highest ever number AAPI cadets (15% of the incoming class). The entire student body is at a record 16% Asian Americans--the highest in its 144 year history.
Chief Petty Officer Jacinto A. Sabangan, U.S. Coast Guard
Captain Sally Hu, U.S. Public Health Service
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