U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Jason Lasley was selected as the Headquarters, U.S. Pacific Command Enlisted Person of the Quarter on January 12, 2011. Lasley is assigned to the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies as the Communications Security Non-Commissioned Officer and is the first Center NCO ever chosen for this award. Not only is he the primary handler for the entire Center’s message traffic, he also serves as a critical information conduit for tasking between PACOM and the Center’s faculty.
Lasley, who calls Las Vegas, Nevada home, has been at the Center for almost two years and has over 16 years in the Army. One of only eight junior enlisted (E6 and below) assigned to APCSS he competed against five other exemplary NCO’s representing the hundreds of eligible service members supporting the PACOM headquarters. As part of his recognition, Lasley will be awarded a Joint Service Achievement Medal.
In supporting his nomination, his supervisor, APCSS administrative officer, Diana Kammunkun noted, “When SSG Lasley arrived at APCSS he hit the ground running, not only correcting deficiencies noted during a USPACOM IG visit, but improved upon them, turning them into two model programs. He is a talented, diverse NCO.” Co-worker Ms. Kaelene Foo, executive secretary to the Director, adds, “Staff Sergeant Lasley is a hard working, dedicated NCO who has added value to the overall APCSS environment.”
In another groundbreaking achievement for the Center, in October 2011, Lasley, as a junior NCO, was selected to co-host a briefing for the first-ever Senior Enlisted Leaders Conference, a component of the 14th Annual Chiefs of Defense Conference. His efforts in polling and briefing 22 senior enlisted advisors from 17 countries were warmly received and highly praised by those senior leaders. In his off-duty time Lasley is completing his bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a 3.45 GPA and is deeply involved in local community activities.
For Lasley the recognition and rewards are gratifying. Likewise, he is, of course, proud and honored to represent the U.S. Army. However, the most important reward in being selected is, “Not only is this a first for the Center, but my main motivation is to help bring the Center and its enlisted into the light, to let people know we’re here and what we do.”
Established in 1995, the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies is one of five Department of Defense academic institutes that address regional and global security issues. Military and civilian representatives, most from the U.S. and Asia-Pacific nations, participate in a comprehensive program of executive education, professional exchanges and outreach events, both in Hawaii and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The Center supports the U.S. Pacific Command by developing and sustaining relationships among security practitioners and national security establishments throughout the region. APCSS’ mission is to build capacities and communities of interest by educating, connecting, and empowering security practitioners to advance Asia-Pacific security. To date, the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies has had representatives from 99 countries and four international organizations attend the courses at the Center for a total of 6,124 alumni.
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