Lacey Vet Selected for Seven Seals Award

Sgt. David Russo, 35, of Lacey was awarded the Seven Seals Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for his proposal to create a State Parole Board military and veterans committee.

As a Captain with the NJ Air National Guard, 177th Fighter Wing and Sergeant with the State Parole Board, Russo naturally had an interest in creating a program that would benefit members of the military as well as veterans in the workplace, he said.

“As a citizen airman and longtime member of the 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic County and State Parole Board, I’m dedicated and passionate about veterans missions and honored to receive the award,” he said.

The Seven Seals Award, which depicts the heraldry of the seven seals of the military that the ESGR serves, is given at the discretion of the ESGR Chairman recognizing the efforts of a citizen, business or organization whose actions have benefited all of the Reserve components.

In the State Parole Board alone, there are about 43 veterans and current military members, Russo said. Although in the early stages of forming the committee, Russo’s vision is to create a program for both vets and those still serving.

“Our mission is to provide services to military members who have been called to military duty and employees who are considered vets,” Russo, a veteran himself, said.

The committee would develop an organizational culture that would be supportive of parole board employees that are transitioning between state employment and military service, he said.

The committee would educate the staff of the State Parole Board and ensure that employees return to a welcoming environment, he said. The committee would create a liaison responsible for maintaining contact with the employee serving in the military as well as the employer.

Russo developed the idea after reading about various programs in other departments including the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, Santa Ana Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department.

“I thought it would be a good idea,” Russo said.

The committee would also have a recognition program to honor the sacrifices made by service members and veterans, he said. Employees would be recognized with awards, newsletters, photographs and prominent displays throughout the agency.

Russo plans to develop subcommittees in which veterans advocate for each other as well as build partnerships with other agencies to share resources, he said. He is optimistic that the committee will be established in just a couple months.

“On this day, where over 10 police chiefs joined the NJ Parole Board to sign “Statements of Support” for the Guard and Reserve, it was time to recognize Sgt. Russo as a “Citizen Soldier” and an individual worth of recognition,” said Donna Clementoni, Director of Employer Outreach for ESGR.