The award is the civilian equivalent of the Distinguish Service Medal.
Pollock serves as the Acquisition Chief Process Officer of the Air Force — until Friday, when he leaves for a life back in Urbana. Prior to that, he served in the Air Force for 27 years and retired as a Colonel. Between the two assignments, Pollock has 34 years of service to the country.
“I was surprised to receive the award; it’s the pinnacle of awards,” Pollock said. “I think it’s wonderful but I didn’t win it, the people I work with really won it.”
Those co-workers were the ones who nominated him for the award.
“We followed up on it throughout the process because we really cared to see he got the award,” said Mildred Bonilla-Lucia, branch chief for the Chief Process Office.
Pollock doesn’t like to be the center of attention.
“When Pollock retired from the Air Force, he didn’t want a ceremony. He likes to stay under the radar,” Bonilla-Lucia said.
Pollock and his wife, Catherine, have spent 15 years in the Washington, D.C., area. But they recently purchased a home in Urbana.
“Our plans are to settle down and be good members of the community,” Pollock said. “We prefer Ohio.”
Pollock and his wife met in Springfield. Their first date was canoeing on the Mad River.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, they got a taste of what awaits them back as they attended ceremonies in Urbana.
“It was simple and honest,” Pollock said.
Pollock, a 1981 Miami University graduate, is a Civil War buff and a member of many patriotic societies. He, his father and his grandfather have together amassed 98 years of military service.
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