Marines

Photo Information

Quantico Logo

Photo by

MCCDC recognizes deputy counsel, other civilians

8 May 2013 | Mike DiCicco Marine Corps Base Quantico

Patrick Hodges oversaw the consolidation of three legal counsel offices into one, a merger that placed counsel for Marine Corps Base Quantico, Marine Corps Combat Development Command and Marine Corps Systems Command all under his leadership as deputy counsel for the newly formed Quantico Area Counsel Office.

For this and other accomplishments since May 2010, Lt. Gen. Richard Mills, commanding general of MCCDC, presented Hodges with a Department of the Navy commendation for superior civilian service at a recognition ceremony May 8 at the Raymond G.Davis Center.

According to his citation, Hodges also developed procedures to enhance Marine Corps University’s ability to accept donations and was crucial to the transition of the Marine Corps’ Senior Mentor Program from a contract-based to a civil-service program, all while reviewing more than 600 financial disclosure reports and numerous post-employment opinions and gift acceptance reviews each year. During this time, he also administered a comprehensive ethics training program.

“These are not easy legal questions we deal with, especially nowadays,” Mills told the crowd that filled the auditorium. He noted that Hodges is a former active duty Marine, who served seven years as an enlisted administrative clerk and small-arms repairman, and four years as an amphibious assault officer.

“Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to tell a three-star general he can’t do this or he can’t do that or he’s going to go to jail and he needs to pack his things,” Mills cracked.

Four other civilians were recognized at the event for their length of federal service. They were Pascual Evo Jr. and Daniel Chartier, each with 10 years of service, and Laurie Smith and Claudia Johnson, each of whom has served for 25 years.

“I know we’ve had kind of a tough few months here, as far as the civilian workforce goes,” Mills said, but he assured, “Without you, this place wouldn’t work—there’s no question about it.”

He commended the civilians present for not letting uncertainties about furloughs and other budgetary issues affect their performance.

“That’s what we expect of Marines in the field, and it’s great to see that in our civilian Marines here in this fighting hole,” he said.


Marine Corps Base Quantico