Prof. Justin Crepp, Department of Physics, has been recognized with a Patriot Award from the National Guard of the United States. He was nominated by Randy Hamper, a staff engineer within Notre Dame’s Engineering and Design Core Facility (EDCF), which is overseen by Prof. Crepp. The award is given in honor of the support provided to a service member and his or her family.
Hamper will soon be deployed for eight months with his National Guard unit. He explains, “Because the EDCF is a small team, and I was/am acutely aware of the burden my absence will put on this team. Prof. Crepp’s first words upon me telling him of my deployment was to inquire about my family.” Hamper went on to say that Crepp made him feel supported and valued.
The Patriot Award is given to individual supervisors, not to an organization as a whole. It reflects the efforts made to support citizen warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed.
“With all the stresses as I prepare for deployment, it is a blessing to get comfort from my employer,” said Hamper. “That’s what makes working with Prof. Crepp at Notre Dame a special place. “