Alumni Spotlight: Kollin Wisniewski ’23 Earns Superior Civilian Service Award
Kollin Wisniewski ’23 recently received the Superior Civilian Service Award, the second‑highest honorary recognition granted to the Department of the Army civilians. The award honors individuals who significantly elevate productivity, demonstrate exceptional initiative, or show notable courage—an honor equivalent to the military’s Legion of Merit.
Wisniewski earned the distinction for his role on a team conducting a major Organic Industrial Base (OIB) study mandated by Congress and the Secretary of the Army. The team was tasked in August 2025 with completing a full 90‑day assessment. In the first 30 days alone, the team visited 23 sites across the country and met with private‑sector partners to understand the challenges facing the OIB.
To manage the massive volume of qualitative data including interviews, transcripts, legal documents, and more, the team built AI agents to help identify patterns, pain points, and systemic issues. All of this unfolded under the pressure of a looming government shutdown, which ultimately shortened the timeline. Despite the constraints, the team pushed through, with some members even working during the shutdown to finalize the report ahead of the Veterans Day deadline.
Reflecting on the achievement, Wisniewski shared:
“The award itself is a nice recognition, representing the work and preparation that allow me to contribute meaningfully to my role with the team. The education I received from Shenandoah provided the foundation, discipline, and perspective I rely on daily. Sharing this news with my professors was my way of expressing appreciation for the strong foundation they helped build.”
He graduated from Shenandoah with a Bachelor of Science in data science & applied mathematics.
