RDECOM's Command Sgt. Maj. Honored by Hispanic Engineers

eCYBERMISSION is part of the Army’s education outreach initiative, and is housed at the Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) located on Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Md. eCYBERMISSION and RDECOM are very proud to share with you some exciting news, as RDECOM’s Command Sgt. Maj. Hector Marin was recently honored with an award for his work with soldiers in remote battlefields. A native of Honduras with a degree in aeronautical science, Command Sgt. Maj. Marin was honored by the leading Hispanic and science publication, Technica Magazine. He accepted his award at the Hispanics in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (HENAAC) conference in Long Beach, Calif. in Oct. 2009.

The following article was taken from RDECOM Public Affairs Office, originally posted to www.army.mil on Oct. 20, 2009.

U. S. Army Update
RDECOM CSM recognized by Hispanic engineers

The command sergeant major of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command was recognized by Technica Magazine, the national Hispanic Engineering and Science publication, with its Role Model of the Year Award for 2009.

Command Sgt. Maj. Hector Marin received the award at the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards conference in Long Beach, Calif., in October.

Technica Magazine's editor, Carmela C. Mellado, said that Marin's success in making sure that engineers and scientists in Army laboratories understand the requirements of Soldiers on the battlefield was the primary reason for the award.

Marin, a native of Honduras who now holds a degree in aeronautical science, spoke of his life and his work to hundreds of college-aged Latino science and engineering students at the HENAAC student leadership awards dinner.

"When I go into those laboratories and look at those scientists and engineers working hard to solve our problems, it really makes me feel good," Marin said. "Our guys on the battlefield don't understand the amount of effort that goes into the equipment and innovations and they shouldn't have to, but we've got individuals from all sorts of backgrounds and all kinds of degrees working hard twenty-four seven to save Soldiers lives. I've got a lot of respect for all they do."

The magazine featured Marin in its October issue and specifically cited his efforts in developing the Unitized Group Ration Express, a method to provide a complete hot meal for up to 18 Soldiers in remote field locations where group feeding would not otherwise be possible. That concern was brought up to Marin during a fact finding visit to Soldiers serving on remote battlefields in the theater of operations. He also recently led a collaborative initiative to develop a safety restraint for gunners on MRAP [mine resistant ambush protected] vehicles so that they would not get thrown from the vehicle in an accident.

His story of growing up a poor Honduran immigrant and pushing himself to pursue a career focused on aviation brought the student leadership audience to its feet in a standing ovation. Marin described to them that as a barefoot, shirtless child in Honduras, he would chase after helicopters he saw flying overhead and wish that one day he would somehow be involved in aviation.

"I wanted one day to either fly or repair whatever it is that was flying overhead. That is how my passion started for aviation," Marin said.

He also told the audience how he overcame his language barrier over the years to join the Army as an aircraft power plant mechanic.

"When I joined the Army, I told the recruiter 'I want anything to do with aviation,'" he explained.

Eventually, Marin got his degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle University and before coming to RDECOM had risen in the field of Army aviation to command sergeant major of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Marin is also focused on attracting young talent into the Army's research and development workforce to keep the Army on the cutting edge of technology.

Looking out over the roomful of 300 potential Latino scientists and engineers at the awards dinner, he said, "This room, because of all of your efforts in school, is full of solutions. You are what we call a combat multiplier because what is in this room is exactly what we need to keep our nation safe."

Marin immediately followed this award recognition event with another trip back to the theater of operations for more insight from Soldiers on the battlefield.

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