The Civilian Service Commendation Medal is awarded to civilian employees of the military branches who demonstrate exceptional skills and professionalism. The Department of the Army, specifically, honors employees who are standouts at improving operations at Army garrisons — bases where troops are stationed.
On July 30, the medal was presented to Mark Getman, 54, a Long Beach native and a member of Long Beach High School’s class of 1990. Getman was recognized for his efforts during the Sail4th 250 maritime commemoration at the U.S. Army garrison at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, where he has worked since January 2023. The military exhibition was part of a nationwide celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary. In his role as a public affairs specialist, Getman coordinated photography, wrote news releases and worked with media representatives to ensure that the event was seamlessly documented.
“I did a lot of the photography, video and social media,” Getman explained. “That was part of all the coordinated efforts — and providing the content and uploading it quickly to the Department of War or Department of Defense site that media [outlets] can pull from.”
Prior to his posting at Fort Hamilton, Getman was a civilian employee of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, in Kings Point. He also spent years working with the National Guard. His cumulative professional experience earned him a five-year Federal Service Certificate, which was also presented at the award ceremony.
“He always goes above and beyond whatever’s expected of him, which I always appreciate,” said Susan Blair, Fort Hamilton’s public affairs chief and Getman’s supervisor. “He’s a pleasure to work with. Probably one of the nicest guys you can ever meet.” She added, “I always tell everybody he is probably one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. So I’m very, very fortunate to have him.”
Outside of his government work, Getman is an ordained rabbi, and led services for nearly 10 years at Temple Emanu-El in Canarsie, Brooklyn, until it shut down in June after more than 65 years in the community. He continues to officiate events and weddings independently, and has been featured as a rabbi in television shows including “Orange is the New Black” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
Getman, who lives in Cedarhurst, has also stayed in touch with his Long Beach roots by regularly lacing up his figure skates and getting on the ice. “Many, many years ago, when I grew up, [Long Beach] had a large figure skating school,” he recounted. “I stopped when I was about 17.” He returned to the sport four years ago, after a friend made him aware of figure skating competitions for adults.
His interest renewed, Getman got back into the rink — and placed first in his division at the Hommocks Park Ice Rink competition, in Mamaroneck, in April. He entered the Interpretive division, in which he was required to create a spontaneous routine in the moment, skating to music he was hearing for the first time.
Getman frequently returns to the City by the Sea to practice at the Ice Arena, where he also works part-time as a skate guard to ensure a safe environment for those on the ice. The agility, in the form of spins and jumps, that competitive skating requires has kept him in top physical condition, strengthening his legs and improving his cardiovascular endurance, a creative alternative to running in the Army.
More important, skating has helped him become a two-time survivor of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, with which he was diagnosed in 2014. He is currently in remission, and cites his regular exercise on the ice as part of the reason — and has even taken advantage of bursts of energy during his treatment to head to the nearest rink.
“I would go for my treatment and then I would go right after to practice, because I was full of the medication that pumped me up,” Getman said. “That got my adrenaline going and I’m like, ‘All right, I’m here. May as well.’”
He explained that being able to return to skating, as an adult and as a cancer survivor, was about prioritizing his own goals regardless of the circumstances. “It’s about overcoming adversities and difficulties,” he said. “Just don’t let it stop you from enjoying life.”