DENVER - The Colorado National Guard has awarded state employee Amanda Hettinger the State Meritorious Service Medal. This is the highest civilian award bestowed by the National Guard. Hettinger was recognized for her leadership and service alongside the National Guard teams conducting COVID-19 testing operations throughout the state over the last several months.
Prior to the COVID-19 response, Hettinger served as the exercise coordinator in the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). She was recently named the Rapid Response/Testing Task Force Leader for the state’s COVID-19 response.
“Coloradans are grateful and inspired by Amanda’s tremendous dedication and sacrifice during this unprecedented pandemic. She has worked tirelessly to lead National Guard teams in testing thousands of at-risk Coloradans across our state and is deserving of this high honor,” said Governor Jared Polis.
Hettinger set up 33 testing sites that were staffed by the National Guard across the state. The National Guard has tested more than 5,000 high-risk people at these sites since March 2020. The results from those testing sites provided the state and county with information vital to understanding COVID-19 transmission and determining how best to contain the disease and prevent the loss of life. According to the nomination: “Her knowledge and expertise were vital at the onset of the pandemic. Ms. Hettinger's performance reflects great credit upon herself, the 8th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Enhanced Response Force Package, the Colorado National Guard, and the Department of Defense.”
The award recommendation also states that Hettinger “was at the forefront of the nation” responding to the virus “by running 24/7 operations and setting the example for all National Guard units, The Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the Department of Defense (DoD).”
The Colorado National Guard presented the commendation to Hettinger during an award ceremony on Thursday, July 2. The medal was signed and approved by the Adjutant General of Colorado, U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mike Loh.
Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.
Photo Credit: CDPHE
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