Eight people were nominated to be Lincoln Military Housing’s Mid-Atlantic Region Partner of the Year for 2013, but there were about 20 nominations for Oscar Almond, head of the Family Housing Branch at Marine Corps Base Quantico.

The praises in those many recommendations were enough to lock up the award for Almond, who accepted the honor Monday, along with the Professional Housing Management Association’s Outstanding Senior Housing Manager award.

“The nominations that came in from the staff here were great,” said Colleen Morehead, general manager for Lincoln’s Mid-Atlantic Region, as she presented the Partner of the Year award.

However, Almond seemed especially moved by the PHMA award, which came to him as a surprise. His staff had recommended him for it.

“To know that you all did this really means a lot,” he told the base housing personnel who attended the award ceremony at Lincoln’s Family Center.

Presenting the Outstanding Senior Housing Manager award, Joe Provenzano, deputy director of the base Installation and Environment Division, said Almond sometimes comes across as a Lincoln employee, while other times, he is clearly a civilian Marine. However, he said, Almond always represents the interests of his staff.

A base employee, Almond is the liaison between the base and its residents on one hand and Lincoln Military Housing on the other, explained Morehead.

“He’s trying to make everybody happy,” she said. “He’s concerned about what’s right for the families, he’s concerned about what’s right for the staff and he’s concerned about what’s right for the partner.”

She said Almond has always been able to balance that relationship and arrive at equitable solutions.

“No matter what, he’s fair in everything,” said Isabel Allen, president of the Old Dominion chapter of the Professional Housing Management Association, who wrote up the final recommendation that Almond receive the award. “He’s always been the one who will recommend somebody else for the award,” she added.

This is a Corpswide award, and Morehead estimated about 1,500 government and private employees were eligible for a PHMA award.

As for the regional Lincoln award, she said winners are selected based on their effectiveness at building relationships. As the liaison between the Marines and Lincoln Military Housing, Almond lets either party know when he thinks they’re in the wrong and backs whichever party he thinks is right, she said. “I’ve seen others who don’t function the same way.”

“This is good stuff we do,” Almond told the crowd. “Where else can you come to work every day, and every day is different?”

He said he appreciated the team atmosphere in the housing office. “If we can’t laugh, don’t even come to work,” Almond said. “Get the mission done, but at the same time, have some fun doing it.”