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NEWS | Feb. 16, 2017

NAVSEA Announces 2016 Sailor of the Year

By Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Corporate Communications

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) announced its 2016 Sailor of the Year for the active and reserve component during an award ceremony in Arlington Feb. 16.

Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Disi Zhao, currently assigned to Southwest Regional Maintenance Center in San Diego, won in the active-duty category. Master-at-Arms 1st Class Selene Ceballo, currently assigned to Naval Security Force for the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) in Andros Island, Bahamas, won in the reserve category.

“The cornerstone of our Navy's success is its ships, aircraft, and people, and no other group of people does more than our Petty Officers,” said Vice Adm. Tom Moore, NAVSEA commander, in the ceremony’s program. “They are the bedrock to that success and their leadership and expertise is second to none. The Sailors of the Year for the NAVSEA Enterprise are the ultimate examples to emulate for our 10,000 Sailors that work at NAVSEA.”

The ceremony culminated weeklong activities for the finalists representing NAVSEA’s field activities, shipyards and reserve units. In addition to the winners, the finalists included: 

·         Navy Diver 1st Class Taylor Arney, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division

·         Navy Diver 1st Class Michael Baum, Navy Experimental Dive Unit, Panama City, Florida

·         Yeoman 1st Class Thomas Feasel, SurgeMain Central Northeast Headquarters Unit

·         Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Thomas Glica, SurgeMain Lehigh Valley

·         Navy Diver 1st Class Jonathan Gregg, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport Division

·         Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Misael Perez-Carrion, Naval Reserve SurgeMain Puerto Rico

·         Yeoman 1st Class William Rosati, Naval Reactors

·         Fire Controlman 1st Class Christyl Schoultz, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility

·         Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Kenneth Utley, SurgeMain Saint Louis

“You truly are the best of the best, and I am amazed at everything you have done to come this far,” said Capt. Renee Squier, NAVSEA chief of staff and ceremony guest speaker. “Each and every one of you has demonstrated sustained superior performance in support of our mission. You have shown a dedication to our Navy that sets you apart, and you have earned the right to be here today.”

Zhao enlisted in the Navy in 2009 and reported to the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center in January 2015 as the Southwest Regional Outside Electrical Shop Leading Petty Officer. His collateral duties include the command’s equal opportunity manager and departmental career counselor.

Ceballo enlisted in the Navy in 2008 and in February 2009, she reported to the Navy Operational Support Center West Palm Beach, Florida and was assigned to Naval Security Force AUTEC.

Zhao will now go on to compete for Sailor of the Year at the office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) level, while Ceballo will go on to compete for Sailor of the Year in the Navy Reserve.

“There are many ways the Navy recognizes its Sailors, but there is none more distinguished than the Sailor of the Year Program,” said NAVSEA Command Master Chief Russ Mason, reflecting on the week’s events. “It is a time to bring together the very best Sailors the command has to offer and to show them our appreciation for their hard work over the past year. This is what keeps me going–the chance to be around some of the finest Americans I have ever known.”

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Whittet established the Sailor of the Year award program in 1972 to recognize individual Sailors who best represented the growing group of dedicated professional Sailors at each command and ultimately, the Navy.

Initially, the program only recognized Atlantic and Pacific Fleet Sailors. Within 10 years, the Sailor of the Year program expanded to incorporate shore commands and Navy Reserve Sailors.

NAVSEA is the largest of the Navy’s five system commands with a fiscal year budget of nearly $30 billion, one quarter of the Navy’s entire budget. NAVSEA is the force behind the fleet responsible for designing, building, delivering and maintaining ships and systems on-time and on-cost for the U.S. Navy.

 - NAVSEA -