Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Nichole Bonham | Sgt. Timmothy Boyd, a Dallas native, works at his desk in the Prosecution Task Force...... read more read more
By Sgt. 1st Class Nichole Bonham
Multi-National Division - Baghdad
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – It has always been a mark of pride for the Army to be able to point out the drive, ambition and dedication in its best Soldiers. There was an old Army ad campaign that stated, "We do more by 9 a.m. then most people do all day."
One prime example of that striving-for-excellence attitude can be found in Sgt. Timmothy Boyd, a Dallas native, serving a tour in Iraq with Company B, Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
Boyd has developed a reputation for going above and beyond all expectations.
While working in the Systems Communications section, he used his free time to develop a unit website where spouses back home could interact with their deployed Soldier. He regularly offers his knowledge of computers – and again, his own free time – to help friends and co-workers with any hardware or software problems they're having with their personal computers.
Not that he has a lot of free time. In fact, he may have less than most. With the assistance and support of his unit, Boyd recently completed his bachelor's degree in computer science.
"He promised me if I kept him on night shift that he would complete [his bachelor's degree], and he made that promise and I was so proud when he did complete it," said Staff Sgt. Marlene Noel, a Miami, Fla., native, Boyd's supervisor. "[I'm] so proud that he got player of the day, that he's getting recognized for the things he's done."
"It was a lot of work but instead of watching movies during the free time, you know, you just had to do some homework," Boyd said of completing his degree. "So it took a little bit of sacrifice but I was able to get it done."
He is now working toward his master's degree in computer science. And the story doesn't end here.
Boyd's latest assignment is with MND-B's new Prosecution Task Force, a section that develops arrest warrants for approval by Iraqi judges per the recently-passed security agreement. His job as an intelligence analyst is to comb through intelligence reports all day long looking for evidence to use in putting together a warrant. He helps his partner, a law enforcement professional, develop interview questions for detainees based off the evidence he finds in the reports and puts together the warrant packets that are presented to Iraqi judges.
When Boyd came into the section, he noticed a problem with the lack of organization and ability to cross reference files in current warrants – so he fixed that. Again, he used his free time and civilian-acquired computer programming skills to create a database to manage all the information the section processes.
"He took a very basic [system] that was there and turned it into what's essentially become the standard for the other divisions here in Iraq," said Maj. Kevin Admiral, a native of Nolanville, Texas, who serves as chief of Prosecution Task Force, 4th Inf. Div. "I think he's definitely set a great example for all non-commissioned officers and Soldiers here in Baghdad. He definitely knows how to manage his time."
Boyd has also worked with Multi-National Corps – Iraq to help develop the Combined Information Data Network Exchange database for warrants so that the new system maintains some of the same functionality he developed in his own program.
After this deployment, Boyd's enlistment will be up and he said he plans on becoming Mr. Boyd and finding a job in the computer science career field he's been spending so much of his "free time" studying for.
When asked if he's planning on ever bringing those skills back to the military he keeps his options open. "It's always a possibility."
| Date Taken: | 01.04.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.04.2009 16:42 |
| Story ID: | 28432 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 164 |
| Downloads: | 107 |
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