Six park rangers within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District earn special recognition for their exemplary work in natural resource management

It's not every day that quiet dedication earns a public round of applause. But May 5 was that day for six park rangers within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District recognized six park rangers for their outstanding contributions to natural resource management with a commander’s coin and the Department of the Army Civilian Service Achievement Medals during a small ceremony May 5 at the district office in Nashville, Tenn.

Four rangers received a commander’s coin from Lt. Col. Robert Green, Nashville District commander, in recognition of their dedication, innovation and support to district operations.

Tim Dunn, Operations Division deputy chief, read each award citation one by one as Green presented each award, beginning with Park Ranger Giovanny Espinoza.

Espinoza, who is stationed at Old Hickory Lake, received a commander’s coin for his innovative approach to promoting water safety. Through the development of a water safety public service announcement, Espinoza engaged the local Metro Nashville community with creative and impactful messaging in both English and Spanish. His outreach efforts focused on raising awareness about life jacket use, drowning prevention and safe water activities at J. Percy Priest Lake where there is a growing Hispanic community.

Emily Johnson, a conservation biologist at Old Hickory Lake, received a commander’s coin for her leadership in use-fee management and mentorship of new employees. Her practical guidance and expertise helped new team members quickly understand the district’s operational procedures, which contributed to greater efficiency and effectiveness in the overall execution of the programs.

Mitchell Crockarell, a conservation biologist at Cheatham Lake, received a commander’s coin for his role as the field representative on the Visitation Estimation Reporting System Coach Assist and Train Team, or VERS CATT. VERS is a system used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to document and report visitor statistics at recreation areas. The VERS CATT is a specialized team dedicated to ensuring consistent and accurate visitation estimates across Corps projects by providing coaching, assistance and training on best practices for monitoring and reporting. Crockarell’s deep knowledge of the VERS system, along with his problem-solving skills and field support, were instrumental in ensuring accurate data reporting and smooth program operations.

Ashley Webster, an environmental protection specialist at Cordell Hull Lake, received a commander’s coin for her critical role in developing the district’s formal water safety public service announcements. Her expertise in video editing helped elevate the quality and clarity of the district’s outreach content. Webster also provided valuable support during the 2024 Nashville District water safety training, assisting with the instruction and mentorship of new interns and trainees.

During the ceremony, Green recognized the critical role that park rangers play in the district’s natural resource management efforts.

“The park rangers are the ones who are really out there every day, interacting with the public, making sure that our recreation areas are safe and enjoyable for everyone,” Green said.

Two individuals received the Department of the Army Civilian Service Achievement Medal for years of volunteering their time to instruct self-defense training programs for park rangers — a responsibility they did not have to take on but chose to do so in order to better prepare their colleagues.

“Both of these individuals went above and beyond the call of duty to mentor and train the next generation of park rangers,” said Terrell Stoves, operations project manager for Center Hill, Dale Hollow and Cordell Hull lakes.

The first to receive the Department of the Army Civilian Service Achievement Medal was Gary Bruce, a conservation biologist at Center Hill Lake, for nearly two decades of service as a visitor assistance trainer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District. From June 2007 to March 2025, Bruce devoted more than 1,000 hours to training and certifying hundreds of natural resources specialists, significantly strengthening the district’s visitor assistance program. He also served as an instructor for Spontaneous Protection Enabling Accelerated Response, or SPEAR, and self-defense training. His innovative methods, mentorship and professionalism enhanced public safety and set a high standard for natural resource stewardship.

Phillip Sliger, a natural resources specialist at Center Hill Lake, also received the Department of the Army Civilian Service Achievement Medal for his exceptional service and dedication to training natural resource management specialists in the Nashville District and across the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division from January 2016 to March 2025. Sliger played a key role in planning the Nashville District Park Ranger Workshop, ensuring that rangers received vital visitor assistance and safety training. He also instructed self-defense training programs, enhancing and standardizing defensive tactics instruction throughout the division.

Stoves commended the honorees for their dedication and lasting impact on their teams and the communities they serve.

The Nashville District manages 284 recreation areas across the region, offering more than 22.7 million annual visitors access to campsites, trails, boat ramps and more than 4,600 miles of shoreline. Park rangers provide year-round services, promote water safety and protect natural and cultural resources. Recreation on Corps-managed lands