Helbig earned the award by achieving the highest score on the Security Force's annual performance review, which evaluated more than 50 officers in 11 different categories, including rounds and inspections, personnel access control, and property and document control.

A member of APL's Security Force for three years, Helbig says, "I'm proud to be part of the team entrusted with safeguarding the Laboratory and its operations."

In addition to her regular duties, Helbig helped train new officers, worked at the Security Force operations console, and participated in two Process Action Teams formed to improve security operations.

The Applied Physics Laboratory is a not-for-profit laboratory and independent division of The Johns Hopkins University. APL conducts research and development primarily for national security and for nondefense projects of national and global significance. Located midway between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., in Laurel, Md., APL employs 2,700 full-time staff.