Photo By Master Sgt. Ershwyn Thibou | HONOLULU, Hawaii (April 24, 2019) -- Senior Executive Service Member Gary Kitkowski...... read more read more
HONOLULU, Hawaii (April 24, 2019) - After 43 years of service to the nation, Senior Executive Service member Gary Kitkowski, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, (USACE) Pacific Ocean Division (POD) retired on May. 24, 2019 at a ceremony held in his honor at the Hale Ikena restaurant on Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
At the event, Brig. Gen. Thomas Tickner, POD commander, expressed his gratitude to Kitkowski for his many years of dedication, and service to the nation. Tickner referenced the impact of Kitkowski’s contributions to USACE, and his role in helping POD remain as the strategic engineer of choice saying, “today his fingerprints can be seen all across our four services and beyond. And, well after he moves on to his next chapter, we will continue to benefit from his commitment to delivering the program, and to developing people.”
Addressing Kitkowski, Tickner went on to say “whether in times of critical change, crisis or during ongoing operations, you have been the steady arm we have needed to guide us upward and onward, and the sage council upon which our organization has come to depend.”
Kitkowski grew up in Palolo valley on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii as one of two boys in what he describes as a simple family. He grew up in a traditional household and credits his parents for their dedication, and values that they instilled in him early on. Observing his father who he says was a quiet man, Kitkowski notes that his father’s actions always did the talking. He says that he learned from this example, and applied the same principle to the way that he approached his work, and life as a whole, ensuring that he too always gave his best at whatever he did, letting his actions speak louder than words.
Kitkowski attended Saint Louis High School, and then graduated from the University of Hawaii with a degree in civil engineering, then sought work as a civil engineer in Hawaii after his graduation.
Shortly after, he moved to Los Angeles where he found work as a naval architect at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, and thus began his career in public service. He soon joined the Corps of Engineers in L.A. and started an internship working as a civil engineer with the organization. After about seven years on the mainland, he returned to Hawaii where he resumed his career in the civil service.
Kitkowski has spent 41 of his 43 years as a public servant working with Corps of Engineers, and has made many significant contributions to the organization. He cites the Puerto Rico power restoration project as one of the highlights of his career, emphasizing that it wasn't the project that made it so memorable, but seeing the impact that it had on the lives of the people.
In addition, he marveled at the way USACE volunteers were able to synchronize their efforts in Puerto Rico, using their talents to achieve the mission despite constant turnover. “Everyone was willing to do whatever was necessary for the success of the mission.” He said reflectively, “talk about working as a team, everybody was all in, so to have that sense of purpose, knowing that here were people from all over the corps in one place. That was kind of a summary of my career and demonstrated the strength of the organization.” As he is about to leave the corps, he believes that this mission demonstrated that the corps is in good hands.
In reflecting on his career, Kitkowski states that early on, he had more modest career goals, but as opportunities arose, he took advantage of them. Kitkowski recalls that in taking advantage of these opportunities, he’s often had to take risks, stepping out of his comfort zone in order to be in a position to help improve the lives of others. Along the way Kitkowski worked to do his best to leave every position in a better state than what he inherited. This approach helped him to ascend to the highest level of the General Schedule, and ultimately got him promoted to the rank of Senior Executive Service Officer, though neither of these positions was ever a personal goal of his.
He advises anyone venturing into public service to not get too consumed by personal ambition, but always be open to embrace opportunities, leave your comfort zone, be dedicated, work hard, and always give 100 percent effort. He believes that if people adopt this attitude there will be many opportunities to grow and be promoted.
When asked what he considers the most rewarding part of his career, without pausing to reflect, he responded, “it has to be the organization and its people that made the job worthwhile.” He added that without the guidance of the personnel who have mentored him, those who he mentored, along with others he has interacted with over the years, none of his accomplishments would have been possible.
Kitkowski says he considers himself fortunate for the opportunities and the career that he’s had. He believes that his life has been enriched because of his time with the corps.
Though he is retiring from the government, he says “I am not ready to not work.” He remains open to new challenges, and stepping out of his comfort zone one more time even as he moves into this new chapter of his life.
| Date Taken: | 04.24.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 04.29.2019 23:26 |
| Story ID: | 319320 |
| Location: | HONOLULU, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 456 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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