Ford supervisor is finalist for Navy Reserve honor

Todd Brooks has proven himself in crisis. Whether flying counter-narcotics missions in Central America for the U.S. Navy Reserves, or responding to a critical line stoppage at Ford's Vehicle & Body/Chassis Test Lab in Dearborn, the people he works with have learned they can count on Brooks to focus and perform.

Brooks, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1985 to 1991 flying submarine surveillance missions in the North Atlantic, joined Ford as an electronics technician and became a supervisor by the end of the decade.

Ten years after finishing active duty in the Navy, Brooks joined the U.S. Navy Reserves as an i n-flight aviation electronics technician, flying missions such as counter-narcotics operations in Central America. “I wanted to do my part,” Brooks said of his return to the Navy a few weeks after 9/11.

There are more than 2,200 reservists like Brooks employed by Ford and an estimated 11,000 military and National Guard veterans work for the company. Typically, a reservist serves one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer. The company follows Federal regulations that guarantee returning veterans and members of reserve units the jobs they would have had if they had not performed military service.

Their service helps the country and the company. “The experience and training I got in the military has definitely carried over to the work I do at Ford and vice versa,” said Brooks.

The U.S. Navy Reserves recently recognized Brooks as one of five finalists for 2006 Reserve Sailor of the Year, out of 43,000 reservists. As part of the selection process, Brooks spent a week in Washington D.C. at the Pentagon and visited the White House. While Brooks didn’t finish first, he considers the experience the highlight of his military career.

“It was the honor of a lifetime to say the least,” Brooks said.

“Todd raises the bar in any room he walks into,” said Roy Murphy, a Ford Emissions Test Lab technician and fellow reservist. “He’s the most driven, professional and ethical person I know.”

Murphy has been a reservist during his 12-plus years at Ford. When he is "called up" he works with a ground crew, refueling, launching and recovering aircraft, including fighter jets and bombers. He has been stationed in Kosovo, Guam and Bahrain.

“It’s an invigorating and dynamic experience that I just can’t get anywhere else,” Murphy explained. “Whenever I return to Ford after active duty I’m refreshed, more focused and a little more disciplined as a result of the experience.”

When reservists are called to active duty, Ford supplements military pay to match the employee’s Ford salary. Under the company’s “Operation Noble Eagle,” hourly and salaried Ford employees on active duty also may opt for benefit continuation for up to six months. The policy became effective after the 9/11 attacks, and was recently extended for another six months," said Judy Hachey, employee programs.

Ford employees who aren’t in the military often find ways to show their support through programs like “Operation Iraq Pac,” which engages employees of Ford Six Sigma Warranty Parts Analysis Center and other neighboring Ford buildings. The three-year-old program is currently sending holiday gifts to two U. S. Marine Heavy Lift Helicopter Squadrons deployed at the Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. Toiletry kits, DVDs, CDs, novelty T-shirts, sports equipment, greeting cards and a variety of snacks are among the gifts that will be shipped.

Says Barb Grasso, Ford electrical inspection analyst in Six Sigma Warranty Parts Analysis Center. “Our heroes in uniform appreciate everything we send, including our thank you cards. All donations are welcome and no gift is too great or too small.”

Ford multimedia engineer Alice Egan, who served 20 years in the U.S. Navy as an engineering duty officer, knows other automotive engineers who have been on active duty in Iraq and since returned. She says she appreciates the support offered by the company and its non-military employees.

“Some companies can make life difficult for employees who are in the reserves,” Egan said, “but Ford is always very clear in its support of the Reserves.”