BREMERTON, Wash. –
An overflowing crowd at the Admiral Theater saw Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility honor 33 of its top employees and Sailors during its annual Employee of the Year ceremony Wednesday at 1 p.m.
For the first time, the event was also livestreamed for viewing in the nearby Roxy Theater, where hundreds of attendees unable to be seated in the Admiral Theater gathered to watch the ceremony.
During the event, the command celebrated the accomplishments of 31 employees and two Sailors selected from among more than 200 personnel nominated for their 2018 performance in 25 categories.
Categories in which personnel were recognized range from Sailor and Junior Sailor of the Year to supervisors and non-supervisors in administrative, trades and technical fields. The event also included special categories, including innovation, safety, volunteer service, valor and a “Spirit of Compassion” award.
Captain Howard Markle, shipyard commander, presided over the event and praised the winners, nominees and the command’s workforce.
“The greatest part of my job is recognizing your efforts and the work you do every day,” Markle said. “The great work you do – it is why we do the ceremony. You are without a doubt some of the greatest your country has to offer. The Navy could not do what it does without you.”
Families, friends, fellow employees and well-wishers packed the theater to applaud the winners and cheer on all of the nominees.
Today, PSNS & IMF employs more than 14,000 Sailors and civilian personnel who accomplish the Command’s mission to maintain, modernize and retire the U.S. Navy’s fleet.
Honored were:
Everett Detachment Sailor of the Year
Navy Diver First Class Jason L. Peters
Everett Detachment Junior Sailor of the Year
Interior Communications Electrician Second Class Ashley L. Johnson
Commander’s Excellence in Safety Award
Sean Davenport (manager) and Charles Chase
Administrative, Clerical and Support Services, GS-10 or equivalent and below
Kristin Kieffer and Brittany Woolley
Administrative and Support Services, GS-11 or equivalent and above
Gabriel Seifert and Clayton Souza Lafontaine
Administrative Managerial/Supervisory, (non-engineering, non-trade)
Christopher Hughes and Robert Morris
Engineering Managerial/Supervisory
Melissa Holschbach
Trades & Craft - Structural (non-supervisory), WG-06 and above
Susan LaFountaine
Trades & Craft - Mechanical (non-supervisory), WG-06 and above
Brandon Bliss
Trades & Craft - Electrical (non-supervisory), WG-06 and above
Frederick Berry
Trades & Craft - Service (non-supervisory), WG-06 and above
Frank Ranuio
Trades & Craft - Structural (non-supervisory), WG-05 and below
Dereck Segarra
Trades & Craft - Mechanical (non-supervisory), WG-05 and below
Brandon Coyne
Trades & Craft - Electrical (non-supervisory), WG-05 and below
Travis Foreman
Trades & Craft - Service (non-supervisory), WG-05 and below
Aaron Gantz
Trades Supervisor (foreman)
John Anderson and Chadrick Ashby
Managerial Supervisor - Trades/Project (2nd-level or above)
Ronald Jackson and Christopher Strader
Engineering/Professional - Waterfront Support (degreed or equivalent)
Derrick Schell
Engineering/Professional – Planning/Indirect Support (degreed or equivalent)
Tylee Cairns
Engineering/Technical
Marvin Cox Jr. and Jon Rector
Technical/Professional (non-engineering, non-supervisory)
Heidi Stingle
Vision/Innovation Award
Brian Bowker
Valor
Christopher Borges
Outstanding Volunteer Services
Robert Endsley
Spirit of Compassion
Ruben Encomienda and Jordan Rodgers