The UNA Police Department had reason to celebrate Sept. 27 in honor of UNA Chief of Police Kevin Gillilan’s recent recognition of National Chief of the Year.

Gillilan received the honor from the National Association of Campus Safety Administration at a Las Vegas conference last July.

“I don’t feel like I’ve done anything in particular to get such a high honor, but I’m very proud of the accomplishment,” Gillilan said. “It’s more a testimony to the quality of the people I get to work with.”

The event took place in the Stone Lodge from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and allowed students and faculty to come and congratulate Gillilan on his achievement.

The department chose to put the event together to honor Gillilan’s award, but it also served as a celebration of his 43rd birthday and recent acquiring of a doctoral degree in criminal justice and emergency management.

The event provided a variety of food, including a marble cake decorated with the current UNA Police badge, which Gillilan designed.

Vice President of Student Affairs David Shields said Gillilan is very deserving of the award.

“It speaks very much to the quality of the person that we have here and his abilities where you have a national organization review his nomination and review his credential and determine that, in their mind, he is the chief of the year,” he said. “It’s a great honor, we’re very proud of him (and) proud of the work he’s done.”

Gillilan has worked for UNA since 2015, but has been a part of campus law enforcement for 23 years.

“(I am) just proud to be able to continue to serve the UNA community, faculty, staff and students,” he said. “It’s a great honor to do that, and (I) hope that I get to continue to do that.”