FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2007
DHEC employee receives FBI award for community service
COLUMBIA - Arthur Wozniak, Dr.P.H., chief of the state Department of Health and Environmental Control's Bureau of Laboratories has been presented with the FBI's Director's Community Leadership Award for his contributions to the South Carolina Joint Terrorism Task Force.
"This award recognizes the efforts of DHEC's staff," Wozniak said. "They are the ones who provide technical and scientific assistance to law enforcement, fire and other emergency services providers across the state. It is their work that has helped resolve numerous investigations and provided an additional layer of protection for the people of South Carolina."
"Dr. Wozniak has provided consistent leadership and promoted excellent working relationships with the FBI and other agencies across the state," said FBI Supervisory Special Agent Roger Stanton, supervisor of the state's JTTF, who nominated Wozniak for the national honor. "His foresight prior to the nationwide anthrax incidents resulted in a seamless working relationship that ensured the terrorism investigations were worked quickly, efficiently and with an exactness that the citizens of our great state and the nation deserve."
Stanton said all 56 FBI offices in the nation nominate individuals and organizations for the annual award to recognize their efforts to combat crime, drugs and violence in America. Stanton nominated Wozniak and the DHEC lab staff for helping the JTTF investigate numerous "white powder" incidents since the 2001 anthrax mailings that killed five people and left 17 others infected nationwide.
Wozniak said DHEC's Bureau of Laboratories has tested more than 650 powder samples from across the state since 2001. No anthrax has been identified in South Carolina's mail, although DHEC's lab was instrumental in identifying the deadly toxin ricin in a package at a Greenville postal facility.
Wozniak was presented the award by Special Agent In Charge David A. Thomas at a ceremony in Columbia.
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For more information:
Jim Beasley - (803) 898-7769
E-mail - beaslejc@dhec.sc.gov
JBNR121907