Steel de Fleury Medals awarded at town hall

ERDC PAO
Published March 8, 2018
Steel de Fleury Medals awarded at town hall

The Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center awarded four Steel Order of the de Fleury Medals during its annual town hall celebration held on 26 October. ERDC Commander Col. Bryan Green and GSL Director Bart Durst presented the Steel Order of the de Fleury Medal to Neill Stephens, Jr., Wilson Coronel, Stephen Turner and Jamie Davis (not pictured).

VICKSBURG, Miss. (Nov. 16, 2017) -- One of the Corps of Engineers highest honors was awarded to not one, but four Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory researchers during its annual town hall celebration. 

“In 2016, GSL leadership decided to add a new award to its annual Town Hall agenda: the Steel Order of the de Fleury Medal, a prestigious honor signed by the Chief of Engineers. GSL continued the tradition this year by awarding four Steel de Fleury medals,” said GSL Director Bart Durst.

ERDC Commander Col. Bryan Green and Durst presented the Steel Order of the de Fleury Medals to:

  • Wilson Coronel, research physical scientist in the Geotechnical Engineering and Geosciences Branch
  • Jamie Davis, civil engineering technician in the Airfields and Pavements Branch
  • Neill Stephens, Jr., civil engineering technician in the Structural Engineering Branch
  • Stephen Turner, research civil engineer in the Impact and Explosion Effects Branch

Durst said, "The recipients were chosen for this honor because of their dedicated work ethic and the respect and admiration they have garnered from their superiors and their peers. I am proud of what they have accomplished and anticipate great things from them in the future."

The de Fleury, an award of the U.S. Army Engineer Association, was named in honor of François-Louis Teissèdre de Fleury, a French Engineer in the Continental Army. In the late 1980s, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers implemented the U.S. Army Regimental System, senior engineer leadership sought a method for the Corps to honor those who made significant contributions to army engineering. 

Steel, bronze, silver and gold are the four levels of the coveted award. The steel de Fleury may be presented to an individual whose selfless service supports the Army to assure mobility, enhance protection, enable expeditionary logistics and build capacity in order to provide commanders with the freedom of action needed to win full spectrum operations in an era of persistent conflict.

With gold as the highest, only one is awarded throughout the Corp by the U.S. Army Chief of Engineers annually to an individual who exemplifies boldness, courage and commitment to a strong national defense.

Soldiers and civilians, active and retired, from Sergeants to Generals proudly wear the de Fleury Medal.