JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- The Western Air Defense Sector’s Canadian Detachment Master Sailor Malisa Ogunniya, human resources administrator, was awarded the 2019 Junior Non-Commissioned member Logistician of the Year award from Lt. Col. Michael Fawcett, Canadian Detachment commanding officer, Oct. 30, 2020 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. She has since been promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class.
The award recognizes the Junior Non-commissioned member and Junior Officer of the Royal Canadian Logistics Service who most demonstrated exemplary devotion to duty, integrity, and professionalism in the delivery of logistic services to the Canadian Armed Forces.
Ogunniya is the sole provider of human resource and financial services for the Canadian Detachment. “Ogunniya’s tireless performance in supporting Canadian Armed Forces members and their families is unparalleled,” explained Fawcett. “Whether it be through her work in overcoming the command’s multi-national administrative challenges, her involvement in the greater community, or her inspirational leadership and teamwork in the workplace, her ability to positively influence her surroundings extended far beyond her current position and had a significant impact on all.”
Ogunniya began her military career in the Royal Canadian Army as a signal operator and later changed to the Royal Canadian Navy as a resource management support clerk. She has served on the Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Algonquin as the Ship’s Office clerk; at the Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in Victoria, British Columbia, in the Base Orderly Room; and on the HMCS Winnipeg as a pay clerk (also known as a coxnswriter and paywriter).
Ogunniya has sailed in support of support of anti-drug trafficking mission Operation Caribbe which had her visit several ports in South America and she has deployed as part of the nine month sail in support of Operation Reassurance with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 in the Mediterranean Sea in 2015.
Ogunniya has been serving at the Western Air Defense Sector since 2016. She is actively involved in the unit and in the community. She currently holds the secondary duty of charity representative which includes scheduling regular build days with Habitat for Humanity. She’s also served as vice-president of the Mess Committee, coordinating several events and mess dinners and also serves as adult representative for Military Family Services.