DAC Presents 2024 Military Service Awards

The Chamber Defense Affairs Committee (DAC) hosted its annual Military Service Awards October 24 at North Fork to celebrate this year’s outstanding local military service members from the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), and the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center & School, along with outstanding UVA ROTC cadets and midshipmen soon to commission as officers in the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.

Colonel Jonathan E. Velasquez, a 32-year veteran of the US Army and the current National Security Programs Manager at UVA's Office of Research Security, shared a keynote address on "Our Role in an Ever-Changing Environment."

NBC29 provided television coverage of the event.

The following individuals were recognized:

MSG Natalie B. Walker - National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC)
Master Sergeant Walker is a native of Forest City, North Carolina. She enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2004 as a Pharmacy Technician then later reclassifying to the Military Intelligence Corp as an All-Source Intelligence Analyst in 2008. Master Sergeant Walker has served in a wide variety of technical and leadership positions, including Pharmacy Inpatient Technician, Pharmacy Supply and Narcotics NCOIC, Intelligence Analyst, Senior Intelligence Analyst, Army G2 Watch NCOIC, AIT Platoon Sergeant for the 35N and 35P courses, ACE NCOIC, 35F Advanced Individual Course NCOIC, and First Sergeant. Her most recent assignment was Brigade S3 Operations NCOIC, and her overseas assignments include two tours in South Korea and two combat tours in Iraq. She holds an Associates of Science degree and will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence Operations in January 2026.
Master Sergeant Walker’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2OLC), Army Commendation Medal (1SLC), Army Achievement Medal (4OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (5th Award), Iraq Campaign Medal (3 Bronze Stars), the Advanced Austrian Sports Badge, and others.

SrA Jordan A. Beasley - Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
Senior Airman Jordan A. Beasley is an Air/Air Defense Order of Battle Analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency, Rivanna Station, Charlottesville, Virginia. SrA Beasley enlisted in the Air Force in December 2020. She completed basic training in February 2021 and graduated in August 2021 from Operational Intelligence Analyst Apprentice Technical School at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. SrA Beasley started her career as an Intelligence Analyst specializing in theater ballistic missiles at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina in 2021. In January of 2023, she became an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Duty Officer, directly supporting efforts in Spartan Shield, Inherent Resolve, and Enduring Sentinel at the Combined Air Operations Center in Qatar. Her major awards and decorations include the Air Force Achievement Medal.

TSgt Robert C. Biederman - National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
Technical Sergeant Robert C. Biederman serves as the Section Chief, Air Defense and Electronics Team for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). He drives intelligence reporting across the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, three combatant commands, and 18 intelligence organizations. Additionally, TSgt Biederman advises NGA site leaders on internal modernization efforts, oversees division Foundational Military Intelligence production tasks, and guides agency tradecraft policy.
TSgt Biederman is from Longwood, Florida and enlisted in the Air Force in August 2010 as a 2W1X1, Aircraft Armament System specialists. He was assigned to the Air Force Materiel Command. In 2015 he cross-trained to 1N1X1, Geospatial Intelligence Analyst career field and held multiple assignments in the Air Combat Command supporting counterinsurgency and counternarcotic operations. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as NCOIC, Squadron Geospatial Intelligence Training, 17th Intelligence Squadron, Langley AFB. He assumed his current duties in December 2021. His major awards and decorations include the Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters and the Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster.

SGT Marcos R. Gutierrez - The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center & School (TJAGLCS)
SGT Marcos Gutierrez was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil and entered the United States Army in May 2019. He completed Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Advanced Individual Training as a Small Arms and Artillery Repairer (91F) at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia. In June 2023, SGT Gutierrez re-classed from 91F to a Finance Technician (36B) and attended Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. SGT Gutierrez’s assignments include: Maintenance NCO, 1-28 IN REGT, 1ABCT, 3ID, Fort Moore and Finance NCOIC, TJAGLCS Charlottesville, Virginia.
SGT Gutierrez’s military awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, and the Army Service Ribbon. SGT Gutierrez is married to Priscila Gutierrez and has three sons and one daughter: Nicolas Gutierrez, Lucas Gutierrez, Davi Gutierrez, and Maria Julia Gutierrez.

Cadet Rebecca Fitch – US Army ROTC
Cadet Fitch grew up in Charlottesville, VA, and attended Charlottesville High School from 2017 to 2021. She joined ROTC in her second year after showing interest in a leadership class, not knowing it was a class dedicated to students who wanted to become officers in the U.S. Army. However after spending time in the program, learning how to develop leadership skills, this gave Cadet Fitch confidence in herself. She chose to stay in the program and pursue a career in the U.S. Army. In her third year, Cadet Fitch served in critical positions as the Operations Sergeant Major one semester, a Platoon Sergeant the next, and rose in her fourth year to serve as the Battalion Commander and the Cadet Association President, the highest cadet position within UVA Army ROTC.
Cadet Fitch worked on projects such as the Bataan Memorial March, Stop Soldier Suicide Ruck Challenge, research in anti-depressant clinical trials, and directing programs for HelpLine, as well as creating the “Connect” program where students were given accessible mental health resources along with guidelines and limitations for cadets.

Cadet Sasha Porter – US Air Force ROTC
Cadet Sasha Porter is a 4th-year student studying Psychology and Data Science at the University of Virginia and currently serves as Wing Commander for over 120 cadets in the Air Force ROTC program. In this role, she leads the planning and execution of key cadet activities, fosters mentorship, and facilitates communication between the cadet wing and detachment staff. Beyond her military leadership, Cadet Porter co-facilitates meaningful group discussions as a Hoos Connected facilitator, helping students build strong connections. In the Program for Anxiety, Cognition, and Treatment (PACT) Lab, she contributes to research on digital mental health interventions, applying data analysis and research skills to advance mental health solutions.

Cadet Caleb Jay – US Air Force ROTC (Space Force option)
Cadet Caleb Jay is a 4th year student from Alexandria, VA, majoring in Mathematics at the University of Virginia, with minors in Economics and Religious Studies. He currently serves as the Operations Group Commander within the cadet wing where he oversees the creation and implementation of several weekly training activities for over 120 cadets from three different universities. Cadet Jay has served on multiple student committees at UVA, first as a member of the First Year Student Council and then as the Committee Chair of the Police Advisory Committee where he acted as a liaison between students, their concerns, and the UVA Police Department. He currently serves as a Student Dialogue Fellow for the Karsh Institute of Democracy, which aims to promote active citizenship around Grounds. Cadet Jay has also spent the past three years acting as a Peer Advising Coach, where he coaches math students in Calculus, Probability, and Complex Analysis.

Midshipman 1/C Mary Murray – US Naval ROTC
MIDN 1/C Mary Kate Murray is from Fairfax, Virginia. She is a fourth-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences pursuing a major in Environmental Science and a minor in Foreign Affairs and has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.805. In addition to Navy ROTC, she is involved with volunteering at the local elementary school, the UVA running club, a student advisory board, and has served as a resident advisor for two years. MIDN 1/C Murray aspires to serve in the Surface Warfare community after commissioning.

Midshipman 3/C Kyle Nguyen – US Naval ROTC (Marine Corps option)
MIDN 3/C Kyle Nguyen is a second-year, Marine-Option Midshipman at the University of Virginia, originally from Stafford, VA. While pursuing a degree in Leadership and Public Policy from the Frank Batten School, MIDN Nguyen has earned a cumulative 3.79 GPA. During the Fall Semester, MIDN Nguyen has been able to use his experience working for UVA Football's Videography Team to benefit the NROTC Unit by serving as the Public Affairs Officer. Additionally, MIDN Nguyen is currently the Plt Sgt for the Marine-Option Platoon within the unit.