Marine Corps Base Quantico -- The Superior Civilian Service Award was awarded to Kurt Koch at the Raymond G. Davis Center aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Oct. 6. From July 2012 to present, Koch had a profound impact on current and future Marine Corps warfighting capabilities while serving as the deputy branch chief for Combat Vehicle Branch, Fires and Maneuver Integration Division, Capabilities Development Directorate.

“Having more than 20 years of service to the Marine Corps, I transitioned into the civilian workforce and I asked myself, where can I serve?” said Koch. “Clearly, this is a tough business. But, what I’ve found here is meaningful and purposeful work. I’ve benefited over the years, because I’ve been in the company of great mentors.”

The retired infantry officer was awarded for his personal initiative and professional insight which supported the implementation of the Marine Corps Ground Combat Tactical Vehicle Strategy and the successful initiation of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle program.

“In the Marine Corps we always talk about organizing, training, and equipping. The equipping part is essential to the Marine Corps … if you don’t have the right equipment we won’t succeed,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh, Marine Corps Combat Development Command commanding general. “We don’t have a lot of money, and so we have to spend it the right way.

"In order to have successful programs which meet the commandant’s intent, we need qualified leaders like Kurt to take concepts and bring them to fruition," Walsh continued.

Challenged by steeply rising procurement and sustainment costs, Koch helped to develop several options for managing vehicle fleet readiness. The Amphibious Combat Vehicle program is progressing into the engineering, manufacturing and development phase today, as direct result of his determined efforts to prevent cancellation of the program due to budgeting.

This ACV program and Marine Corps Ground Combat Vehicle Strategy set the Corps’ course for the development of ground warfare capabilities to support its service-defining mission of conducting amphibious operations. This strategy provided the basis for the Corps’s future investment in a tactical vehicle fleet comprising over 30,000 vehicles.

According to Col. John Atkinson, director of Fires and Maneuver Integration Division, Koch visualized the Ground Combat Vehicle Strategy and implemented it in a way the Marine Corps understood how to use it. This allowed leaders and the commandant to make timely decisions and sequence capabilities within the confines of limited resources for ground combat modernization, according to Atkinson.

"We owe Kurt and his team a debt of gratitude for their incredible accomplishments and miraculous work," Atkinson said.

Throughout his service as a civilian employee, Koch’s efforts provided a long lasting impact, said Kevin M. McConnell, Deputy Director, Fires and Maneuvers Integration Division, Capabilities Development Directorate, MCCDC. "He has distinguished himself through his professionalism, initiative, and total dedication to duty at a level equal with the honor of receiving the Superior Civilian Service Award," wrote McConnell in the award submission.

— Writer: iirby@quanticosentryonline.com