Deputy Commander receives Humanitarian Service Award at State Capitol

Published June 23, 2010

Lt. Col. Stephen Bales, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District deputy commander, received the Humanitarian Service Medal for his leadership and oversight of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers emergency operations during the Kentucky winter ice storm of 2009. Governor Steve Beshear presented the medal in Frankfort, Ky., April 20. Bales is a native of London, Ky.

In the winter of 2009, Bales supervised the Louisville District Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Bales oversaw emergency missions that included deploying personnel throughout the state, contracting for debris removal, emergency power generation support, oversight of emergency funding and other engineering support from Jan. 28–Feb. 24, 2009.

Working with other state, local and federal agencies during the storm and its aftermath, the district had 38 employees assisting with FEMA’s emergency management mission along with more than 130 other Corps of Engineers personnel from across the nation. While District Commander Col. Keith Landry worked at Kentucky State Emergency Operations Center in Frankfort, Bales led Louisville District’s 24-hour EOC as part of the state-wide support effort. Bales was also part of the Frankfort team working in the state capitol’s EOC during Feb. 7-9, 2009. During this time, Bales directed the planning and execution of state-wide emergency power assessments with the Kentucky State Emergency Operations Center, FEMA Joint Field Office and the 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power). The battalion is a specialized Army unit that provides emergency power generation and distribution during emergency and contingency operations both in the United States and abroad. A combined agency disaster assistance team including the Corps had partnered with the Commonwealth of Kentucky and FEMA to provide industrial-size generators to power critical facilities and to assist in clearing trees, downed power lines and poles from roadways. Generators went to churches, city government buildings, nursing homes, penitentiaries and hospitals, for example.

"This ice storm was personal for the Louisville District and me. A large percentage of our 1,300 employees live in Kentucky and were impacted by this event. This is home to me," said Bales. "It was a great team effort among the Army Corps of Engineers, Kentucky National Guard, Kentucky Emergency Management and FEMA which rapidly responded to the catastrophe which impacted thousands across Kentucky. I was just happy I could do my part."

Bales’ son, and wife, Hope, attended the ceremony. Others in the party included parents, Carolyn and Harold Bales; sister, Donna Baldwin; father-in-law, Tony Smith; and grandmother-in-law, Billie Smith all of London, Ky. Senior Louisville District leaders who attended included David Dale, George Jageman, Darrell Nation, Susan Toutant, and Steve Rager.

"Lt. Col. Bales’ exemplary leadership enabled us to meet many challenges and jump hurdles under duress during the storm’s aftermath. He is an outstanding leader who goes above and beyond the call of duty," said Landry.

Bales has been the district’s deputy commander since 2008 and will become the commander of the Corps’ Buffalo District on July 29.