KCSD HR Director Honored for Supporting Military Employees
Jamie Ongman receives Department of Defense Patriotic Employer Award at Kingsley Field ceremony
Image: Klamath County School District
The Klamath County School District Human Resources Director Jamie Ongman was honored February 25 with a Patriotic Employer Award in recognition of his support for employees serving in the military.
The ceremony was held at Kingsley Field.
Ongman was nominated by Patrick Rose, a social studies and AVID teacher at Brixner Junior High School and a member of the 173rd Security Forces Squadron based at Kingsley Field.
The award is presented by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and recognizes civilian supervisors who provide exceptional support to employees serving in the National Guard or Reserve.
In his nomination, Rose credited the district’s HR department with offering steady assistance during military trainings and activations.
“The KCSD HR department has helped tremendously as I’ve been called away on orders and training,” Rose said. “They’ve helped maintain the balance between my military obligations and my civilian career.”
Ongman said he was surprised and humbled by the recognition.
“This recognition is appreciated, but supporting our service members is simply the right thing to do,” he said. “Our veteran employees are selfless individuals who serve students and the communities of the Basin in multiple ways. It’s easy to support those who support us.”
Pete Goodrich, ESGR Area 5 chair, emphasized during the ceremony that employer support plays a critical role in national defense readiness.
“Our national defense strategy depends on reserve combatants,” Goodrich said. “Forty percent or more of our military capability exists only in the National Guard or the Reserve. We need well-trained, readily available service members who can step forward to support the nation’s needs.”
He added that civilian employers are essential to that readiness.
“Yes, there are federal laws in place,” Goodrich said. “But Jamie does this because it’s the right thing to do.”
While presenting the framed certificate, Goodrich read from the official citation:
“On behalf of the Department of Defense, Jamie Ongman of the Klamath County School District is recognized for contributing to national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard.”
Also attending the ceremony were John Troike, ESGR outreach volunteer and retired Naval Air service member, and Jim Cunningham, ESGR outreach volunteer, retired pilot and Air National Guard general.
As the ceremony concluded, Ongman reiterated the district’s commitment to supporting service members.
“When someone is willing to serve our country, we need to step up and support them. That’s who we want to be as a district,” he said.
ESGR is a Department of Defense program that promotes cooperation and understanding between service members and their civilian employers and provides education and mediation services when needed.
