FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WATERWORKS EMPLOYEE RECEIVES 2009 HEROISM AWARD

The Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association presented water treatment plant shift supervisor David Finch with the 2009 Heroism Award.

The Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association (VA AWWA) presented David Finch, a water treatment plant shift supervisor for Newport News Waterworks, with the 2009 Heroism Award. The award is given in recognition of any one of the following:

• An act of rescue on the part of an employee in the water utility profession where the employee places himself/herself at great personal risk;
• Water utility personnel who help other utilities recover from disasters; or,
• Water utility personnel who are called to active military duty during national emergencies.

David Finch is a Technical Sergeant E-6 in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He was deployed twice to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, November 2003 to March 2004 and May 2006 to September 2006, with the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. During deployments, Finch’s unit assisted with essential potable and non-potable water deliveries to base facilities including 90 remote locations supporting over 5,000 personnel. He supervised the installation of ultra violet water purification units at each of the air base dining facilities for potable water usage and his unit’s rapid response to emergency service calls kept critical sanitation facilities operational.

“David Finch has not only proven himself as an exemplary employee here in Newport News, he has served our country honorably,” says Waterworks Director Brian L. Ramaley. “I am very pleased that the Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association recognized David’s professionalism and sacrifice. He is deserving of the Heroism Award and we are proud to have him on our team.”

###