2008 Stewardship Employee of the Year awarded to Canal Park ranger  

John Pribilla cares for a duck at the Cape Cod Canal. (Photo by Kevin Burke)

Scott Barr, left, and John Pribilla examine a pair of horseshoe crabs. (Photo by Kevin Burke)

Dec. 22, 2008

By Ann Marie R. Harvie
New England District

John Pribilla, natural resource specialist, Cape Cod Canal, is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Stewardship Employee of the Year for 2008.  Pribilla received the award at a ceremony during the Senior Leaders Conference Awards Banquet in Pittsburgh, Pa., Aug. 4.

The award recognizes an individual who has done exceptional work in the field of natural resources stewardship in a district or field office. The award is based on an individual's contribution to managing, supervising, leading and/or administering programs in natural resource management, the protection and enhancement of natural resources at Corps facilities and achievements in the management of land and water resources for natural resources purposes.

According to his nominators, Pribilla achieved many significant and tangible accomplishments in the areas of land and aquatic management, habitat improvement and planning for the future habitat projects at the Cape Cod Canal during 2007.

Pribilla has been able to impart the Army's value of duty, selfless service and integrity to many groups of people to include volunteers, temporary student employees and interns he has come into contact with while working at the Cape Cod Canal. 

"Mr. Pribilla is an excellent interpreter who supports the operation of the Cape Cod Canal Visitor's Center", reads the nomination.  "Through innovative projects including the installation of a new Osprey camera at the center, the public will be able to watch Osprey nesting activities from monitors inside."

According to the nomination, Pribilla also brings the Corps' environmental stewardship values to local elementary school classrooms and makes presentations to civic and social groups.

Pribilla, who has 26 years of service with the Corps of Engineers, is also a steward of sorts for human beings.  He is a certified emergency medical technician who trains other park rangers and canal personnel in emergency response procedures, including the use of automated external defibrillators and oxygen administration in support of emergency response to land and water medical trauma response situations. 

He is on the New England District Emergency Operations Technical Center call out list to respond to natural disasters.  His past deployments include Hurricane Fredric in 1979, Hurricane Bob and the Halloween Nor'easter in 1991, Hurricane Georges in 1998, Hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jean in 2004, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  Pribilla was also a first responder in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.