BNSF News

Veteran Honored with Bronze Star Medal

2012-06-11

The year 2000 marked a turning point for Mark Davison, a general foreman in the Havelock Shops in Lincoln, Neb. That was the year he began working for BNSF and joined the Air Force Reserves, and he is happy he made both decisions.

Davison, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force with eight years of active service, initially joined to pay for his education at Iowa State University. However, it was his commitment to serving his country that kept him active in the reserves.

That same commitment earned Davison the Bronze Star, which he received after a recent six-month stint in Afghanistan. The Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement or service in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. Davison earned the distinguished honor for his leadership in a war-time environment.

"I led about 140 Air Force civil engineers," Davison said. "Their mission was to travel around the country in small teams performing construction and repair at hundreds of combat outposts for our counterparts in the Army and the Marines."

The civil engineers, comprised of guard, reserve and active duty airmen, were also charged with training the Afghan military, and, as a result, the engineers were spread throughout the country to reach as many people as possible. "We started a pretty intense mission to train the Afghan Army to do what we were doing so they could sustain the effort when we leave," Davison said.

Davison noted some of the concerns his fellow airmen had about employment after returning home, and he expressed thankfulness for the support he received from BNSF while in Afghanistan.

"I am grateful for the support of BNSF and the communities that supported us over there. Some of my airmen were worried or concerned about employment back home, and that was something I never had to worry about, which allowed me to focus more of my attention on the mission at hand," Davison said. "Thank you for supporting me and my airmen."

Davison will retire from the Air Force Reserves later this month with 20 total years of service.

Davison believes there are major benefits and similarities in both military and railroad service, including the ability to travel and opportunities for leadership development

"As a leader in both organizations, you gain a lot of experience due to similarities in safety programs, management programs and technology," Davison said.

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