YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — Three Area IV civilian workers have been named recipients of the 2003 U.S. Forces Korea Civilian Employees of the Year award, officials said Monday.

Two of the winners came from Camp Carroll’s Communications Electronics Division; the third works at the Camp Hialeah’s Directorate of Public works, according to a news release from Area IV public affairs.

The winners are: Kim Tonh-hwan, an electronics technician at Camp Carroll who was named Korean National Technician of the Year; Kim Sam-sop, an instrument technician at Carroll who was named Skilled Employee of the Year; and Steven R. Holcombe, a Camp Hialeah engineering technician, who was named U.S. Civilian Technician of the year.

The employees were selected from among more than 100 nominations forwarded to the Special USFK Incentive Awards Review Committee earlier this year.

“Electronic engineering technology improves so quickly, it is not easy to keep myself [current] with all the new information and technology,” said Kim Tong-hwan, whose work includes communication and weapons systems on Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles. “It helps a lot when we think together as a team to find ways to solve certain problems.”

Kim Sam-sop has more than 30 years experience repairing everything from binoculars to targeting systems. He also compiles environmental data and monitors radiation levels in the optic work center.

Holcombe is the manager of all construction projects and oversees South Korean contract work on Camp Hialeh, Area IV officials said.

Holcombe was nominated in part, officials said, because his work is the opposite of the “close enough for government work” ethos that some have long associated with government contracts.

Migrated