MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - -- An Installation, Safety and Security secretary received the Federal Length of Service award Feb. 9 in Bldg. 58 for 30 years of faithful civil service.
Lori P. Rademann a native of Latrobe, Pa., originally began her civil service career in 1965 on the advice of a close, hometown friend.
“I had a friend who worked at the U.S. department of state in Washington, D.C.,” said Rademann. “She said it was a really good place to work and that I should interview for a job there. I was single at the time, and I really didn’t have anything better to do, so I went.”
In 1972, her career took her to Warsaw, Poland. It was here that she met her future husband.
“I was working at the U.S. embassy and he was on MSG duty,” said Rademann. “Because the country was still under communism at the time, I didn’t go out into town very much; I spent most of my free time near the embassy. One day after work, I saw him in the G.I. club and we just started talking.”
Five years later, Rademann got married. She took the next 10 years off to be a stay-at-home mom to two children, a full time job in itself.
When her husband got transferred to Camp Lejeune, she got back on the horse and began working as a secretary at base maintenance in 1987.
“It is an honor and a privilege to receive this award,” said Rademann. “I know it’s been 30 years, but I’m still not ready to retire yet. I love my job too much to give it up now.”
And Rademann’s contributions have been noticed throughout her career.
“I’ve known her for two years now,” said Col. Donald J. Anderson, the ISS assistant chief of staff. “Lori has done a superb job and has been a focal point of this department since she got here in 1994. She’s truly one of the unsung heroes.”