Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund presents first Major Gen. Gordon B. “Skip” Davis Jr. Lions Legacy Awards

VICENZA, Italy - U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), recognized three staff members with the first ever Major Gen. Gordon B. “Skip” Davis Jr. Lions Legacy Award at Casema Ederle, June 21, 2024.


“When he [Wasmund] listed the key values, I signed off immediately,” said Davis. “I said that those are great values for everyone to develop: cohesion, esprit de corps and a desire to excel. I’d be happy to lend my name to the award.”
By Spc. Christopher Sanchez U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa Vicenza, Italy Jul 19, 2024
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VICENZA, Italy—U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), recognized three staff members with the first ever Major Gen. Gordon B. “Skip” Davis Jr. Lions Legacy Award at Casema Ederle, June 21, 2024.

“I was in the airport when I got a call from Maj. Gen. Wasmund and he said to me, ‘Hey Skip, this may be an unusual proposal, but we would like to name a SETAF award after you…’ and then he went on to explain the award’s key values,” said retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Davis.

Davis served as the deputy commander and chief of staff at SETAF from May 2006 – 2008. During his time here, he helped establish U.S. Army Africa.

The award supports a culture of empowerment and trust by recognizing one Department of the Army civilian, one noncommissioned officer and one officer who demonstrate outstanding leadership and professional excellence and embody SETAF-AF’s shared values of character, excellence, trust, humility and innovation.

“When he [Wasmund] listed the key values, I signed off immediately,” said Davis. “I said that those are great values for everyone to develop: cohesion, esprit de corps and a desire to excel. I’d be happy to lend my name to the award.”

“It was an honor to be the first recipients of this award,” said the awardees.

Mr. Richard Fidalgo, deputy director of G-6, U.S. Army Master Sgt. Anthony Hurst, Headquarters Support Company supply noncommissioned officer in charge, and U.S. Army Chaplain Lt. Col. Charles Gilbertson, operations chaplain, were the first members to receive the Major Gen. Gordon B. “Skip” Davis Jr. Lions Legacy Award.

“To those who were chosen, I congratulate you,” said Davis. “But I also wish them to emulate the values that have been put forth in this award.”

The Major Gen. Gordon B. “Skip” Davis Jr. Lions Legacy Award is an annual award . Staff are nominated by fellow SETAF-AF teammates, subordinates, or supervisors through an anonymous portal.

SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis response options in Africa and Europe.

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