Vandalia Health’s Michael Walsh receives FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award
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dbeard@dominionpost.com
CLARKSBURG - FBI employees assembled in the Criminal Justice Information Services Division auditorium Tuesday morning to honor Michael Walsh with their 2025 Director's Community Leadership Award.
Walsh is director of security and campus services at Vandalia Health Mon Medical Center, and at Vandalia’s Marion and Harrison hospitals.
Tim Ferguson, FBI assistant director in charge of the CJIS Division, opened the ceremony explaining the award and why Walsh was chosen - as one of 56 award winners across the country.
"These are the things that are very important to us as an organization - that is partnerships, partnerships, partnerships," Ferguson said.
The award recognizes excellence in private-public partnerships across the country, and in this case recognizes Walsh as a partner who shares the FBI’s mission of protecting the public and building meaningful connections with law enforcement and the community, he said.
The FBI established the award in 1990, he said, to honor individuals and organizations making measurable, positive impacts on the community and whose dedication aligns with the FBI’s commitment to maintain public trust and accountability, crush violent crime and defend the homeland.
Ferguson said that Walsh, in his role at Vandalia, after seeing a rise in shootings and other violent crimes near healthcare facilities, reached out to the FBI for assistance to better protect employees, patients and the surrounding community at Mon Medical Center.
And in 2025, Ferguson said, Walsh partnered with CJIS and the FBI Pittsburgh Field Offices Clarksburg Resident Agency to deliver active shooter training to Vandalia Health employees, and to host hand-on active shooter scenarios at Vandalia hospital facilities, which benefited staff along with law enforcement, EMS services and local 911 centers.
This has expanded to be used as training tools for federal, state and local agencies nationwide, he said.
"Mr. Walsh’s efforts have improved hospital preparedness, enhanced coordination between the FBI and community partners, and strengthened the vial relationship between law enforcement and the healthcare sector. ... Mr. Walsh has contributed to safer communities across West Virginia."
Walsh said the award was a surprise to him. "It’s an honor and a privilege to be here and be selected for this." He thanked his wife, Kristin Keeling-Walsh, and his family members and those who nominated him.
Walsh came to Vandalia almost four years ago, he said, after serving 21 years at the Clarksburg Police Department. He credited his FBI friends and Vandalia leadership for working with him to improve safety at the hospital.
"When I came in, compared with where security and safety was at the hospital and where it is now, it’s just an incredible difference, and we continue to grow. And it takes these relationships and partnerships to do that."
Krystal Atkinson, senior vice president of Vandalia Health, told The Dominion Post, "We are proud to see Michael Walsh receive the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award. As our director of security, Mike takes a proactive approach to keeping our campus safe for patients, visitors and employees. His exceptional dedication to safety is evident in his work every day, and we congratulate him on this honor."