Rockville, Maryland
2019 JAMES “BARNEY” WATERS DEDICATED SERVICE AWARD
EDUCATION
Bowie State University (1980 – 1985), Bachelor of Science in Communications Media, 1985;
Ashford University (2011), Masters in Public Administration, 2011
STORY
“Moe”, as he is referred to by close friends, immediately served on active duty in the United States ARMY as a Field Artillery Officer upon graduation from Bowie State in May of 1985. He served until April 1994 obtaining the rank of Captain. His serviced earned various accommodations to include the Senior Parachutist Badge and the Meritorious Service Medal, with Oak Leaf Clusters. He served as the Battalion Operations Officer, The Adjutant, and Commanded a Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) Field Artillery Battery in Korea. He also served as a Light Infantry Fire Support Officer in the Demilitarized Zone of Korea, and an Airborne Infantry Company in the 82nd Airborne Division. Proving his value, he was elevated to serve as the Airborne/Air Calvary Fire Support Officer at Fort Bragg, North Carolina - receiving certifications in Close Air Support, ANGLICO (US Marines) Operations, and Naval Gunfire Spotters training. He graduated from the Defense Information School – Public Administrative Officers Course in 1993, skilled at the art of accurate dissemination of classified or sensitive in nature information and media relations.
After working as a defense contractor with Litton Data Systems in Agoura Hills, California (1994-1996), he relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1996. He began employment with the City of Charlotte, in Solid Waste Service as a Community Improvement Inspector in October of 1997. Since arriving in Charlotte, he has worked in several fields including a Group Home Counselor/Director, Pizza Delivery Driver, Juvenile Court Counselor, Code Enforcement Inspector, Contract Technician and, Contract Service Manager, Liaison Officer before obtaining his current position as the SWS-Small Business Garbage Administrator.
He is actively involved in and currently holds leadership positions in several organizations. They include the National Alumni Association for Bowie State University; National Forum of Black Public Administrators; American Society of Public Administrators; Mecklenburg County Board of Elections; Friendship Missionary Baptist Church; and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He has also chaired fundraising efforts in Charlotte for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), the United Way, Arts and Council (ASC), and March for Babies.
Moe believes each and every person has a unique gift that they bring to the table every day. Leaders in all organizations need to learn what those gifts are and place people in the position that promotes that gift and enhances the organization. We all have hard jobs. He believes his job (as a leader) is to make everyone’s job easier. And, if you don’t make his job harder, we will get every job done – ALWAYS, in ALL WAYS!
He loves sports –all sports especially football, basketball, baseball and golf at all levels. He earned Varsity letters in Football, Baseball and Basketball in High School, and Varsity letters in college for football as well. He was selected to serve as the ROTC Battalion Executive Officer, Student Government Vice-President, S. Randolph Edmonson theater production, the 1st school Mascot, and Chapter President of his fraternity while in college. He also participated in many of the marches on Washington to make Martin Luther King’s birthday a national holiday in the early 1980’s; as well as Voter registration drives for the Rainbow Coalition in 1983 and 1984.
He has been married to Monica for almost three decades with a son Spencer, a daughter Rebecca; and a grandson that is affectionately known as AJ (Asada Harris, Jr.). He loves his nieces and nephew, the brotherhood of Alpha, and the Cracker Jack Pack of Lincoln Park.