Three individuals and a team were honored during the second annual Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Warfare Centers Headquarters Command Awards ceremony on Aug. 22, 2022.
While the Warfare Centers Awards have been recognizing Warfare Center Division employees’ accomplishments annually since 2005, the honorary award program to recognize Warfare Centers Headquarters Command staff members who excel in support of the mission and values of the organization was established in 2021.
This year’s winners are:
Customer Service Award (Individual): Peter Bodycoat, a member of the Director, Undersea Warfare (DUSW) Office staff, was recognized for his instrumental role in the United States-United Kingdom (UK) Next Generation Capability Cooperation Undersea Warfare “Pathfinder” program. His day-to-day leadership and interactions with his UK counterparts have been credited with achieving tremendous progress on this important effort, and his outstanding work establishing this construct and building the relationship with the UK has been recognized by Executive Director, Submarine Force, and Program Executive Office Submarines, among others.
Customer Service Award (Team): The Warfare Centers Headquarters Corporate Communications Team, under the leadership of Dr. David Sanders, was recognized for practicing and embodying the "Working Together to Get to Yes" mindset while being responsive to its customers. The team is regularly relied upon by external and internal customers to provide information and resources highlighting any and every aspect of the Warfare Centers, and works with internal Warfare Center Division customers to coordinate public affairs activities, including a Community of Practice. “As much as they are required to be, by definition, a reactive group, they do a wonderful job of proactively anticipating needs,” the nomination said. Other members of the team include Christopher Lawson, Michael DeLuise, Priscilla Gumbs, Dr. Linda Nichols, Deborah Reilly and Amy Wittman.
High Performance Award: Kenneth Dotson was recognized for outstanding leadership and strategic vision as the Warfare Centers Headquarters Director of Business Analytics, which has led to innovative capabilities across the NAVSEA enterprise that are aligned with the Campaign Plan, Execution Reviews and the Digital Transformation Strategy. “He is a great communicator, mentor, encourager and leader,” the nomination said. “He exercises clarity and welcomes innovation and a diversified workforce.”
Leadership Award: Andrea Perles, acting Director of Mine Warfare for the Warfare Centers, led her team to identify mine warfare capability needs and gaps, and with precision, translated those needs into specific system capability gaps for pursuit by the Warfare Centers. She led this area employing a holistic approach that looked across fleet needs, mine warfare kill chain gaps, resources sponsor requirements, and current systems under development by the Program Executive Offices.
During the ceremony, two Warfare Centers Headquarters staffers also were presented with Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Awards.
Michael Cockey, a retired Navy captain and Deputy Director of Undersea Warfare, was recognized for his contributions to the management of the day-to-day operations of the DUSW office while organizing and leading efforts to focus fleet engagement, specifically through the Warfare Centers’ Fleet Engagement Community of Practice.
Dr. Scott D. Steward also was recognized for his outstanding achievement as the Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) HQ from October 2020 to June 2022. During that time, he expertly translated user needs into relevant technology efforts and created technology development plans and strategies for the Warfare Centers.
“To all the winners, congratulations,” Warfare Centers Commander Rear Adm. Kevin Byrne said in presenting the awards. “Your outstanding professionalism, personal initiative, and total dedication to duty provided unprecedented benefits that are most worthy of this special recognition.”