WASHINGTON -- Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) leaders gathered to celebrate outstanding performance demonstrated by individuals and teams across the enterprise during its annual Excellence Awards ceremony, Aug 14. The awards were established to recognize superior performance in support of the NAVSEA mission to design, build, deliver and maintain ships, submarines and systems for the U.S. Navy.
NAVSEA Commander Vice Adm. Jim Downey and Executive Director Chris Miller lead the ceremony, recognizing the command’s highest achievers from across the global enterprise. A total of 304 nominations were received with 25 individual and 21 team winners named, each making significant contributions to the NAVSEA mission.
“The accomplishments we honor today—and the leaders who drove the innovation that made them possible—represent the excellence that powers Naval Sea Systems Command, and all its subsidiary components and activities. Our work fuels the CNO’s priorities of Warfighting, Warfighters, and Foundation,” said NAVSEA Commander Vice Adm. Jim Downey.
Award recipients were recognized for a variety of actions ranging from development of protective measures for vessels while in dry dock to creating recruitment and incentive programs that significantly improved workforce retention.
Dr. Robert Cole, winner of the Operations Research/Systems Analysis Award, shared what it means to be a NAVSEA Excellence Award recipient and how the U.S. Navy’s largest systems command of nearly 90,000 civilian and military personnel equips its people to succeed.
“It’s a huge honor, especially when you consider the size of the NAVSEA enterprise,” said Cole. “I’m thankful for my leadership supporting my higher education and assembling a talented and professional team. You don’t win awards like these alone, without a good team and hard problems to work on.”
Categories and winners included:
Excellence in Acquisition Award
Individual: Capt. Jonathan Garcia, PEO Integrated Warfare Systems
Team: CVN-79 Post Shakedown Availability Acceleration Team, Program Executive Office Aircraft Carriers
Chief Information Officer Excellence Award
Individual: Kolby Hoover, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division
Excellence in Command Support Award
Individual: Lewis Moser, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center
Team: Code 800 Supply Logistics Team, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center
Excellence in Contract Management Award
Individual: Jonathan Mauro, Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division
Team: Allegany Ballistic Laboratory Plant 5 Contract Award Team
Excellence in Engineering Award
Individual: John Bock, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center
Team: Maritime Electromagnetic Warfare Sustainment Engineering Team, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division
Environmental Excellence Award
Individual: Brandy Ranard, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division
Team: Fluorine-Free Fire Extinguishing Agent Team, NAVSEA Engineering Directorate
Excellence in Facilities Engineering & Management Award
Individual: Daniel Shinners, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility
Team: Facilities and Engineering Management Team, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division\
Excellence in Financial Management Award
Individual: Tracy Karkainen, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport
Team: Chief Financial Officer Team, Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems
Excellence in Human Resources Award
Individual: Karen Prince-Speaks, Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems
Team: Staffing Sustainment Team, Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center
Excellence in Information Technology Award
Individual: Chris Nguyen, Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division
Team: Shipboard Non-Tactical Automated Data Processing Modernization Team, Program Executive Office Ships
Excellence in Logistics Award
Individual: Robert Stukes, Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems
Team: AEGIS Weapon System Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages Team, Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division
Excellence in Operations Research/Systems Analysis Award
Individual: Dr. Robert Cole, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division
Team: Strike Force Interoperability Team, NAVSEA Engineering Directorate
Excellence in Program Management Award
Individual: David Drake, Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona Division
Team: SEARAM/RAM on DDG Team, Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems
Excellence in Public Affairs Award
Individual: Ashley Whitney, Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center
Team: Public Affairs Office, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division
Excellence in Safety Award\
Individual: Patrick Beacom, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division
Team: System Safety Team, NAVSEA Engineering Directorate
Excellence in Science Award
Individual: Dr. Ryan Kincer, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division
Excellence in Ship Maintenance Award
Individual: Burton Kuntz Jr., Southwest Regional Maintenance Center
Team: USS Sentry DSRA Project Team, Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center
Excellence in Small Business Award
Individual: Carlos Duran, Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division
Team: Strident Acquisition Team, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division
Technical Authority of the Year Award
Individual: Harry Robert Hummer, Jr., Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division
Team: Capabilities and Limitations Team, Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division
Excellence in Test & Evaluation
Individual: Allan Garcia, Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division
Team: WRAP Test Team, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City and Carderock Divisions
Commander’s Innovation Award
Individual: Tinteru M. Jack, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport Division
Team: Surface Missile Assessment Reliability Team, Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona Division
Mentor of the Year Award
Individual: Jason Bickford, Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division
Team: Leadership Training Team, Supervisor of Shipbuilding Newport News
Expand the Advantage Achievement Award
Individual: James Juster, Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems
Team: Mark 48 MOD 4 Torpedo Sub Launch Team, Naval Undersea Warfare Centers Keyport and Newport Divisions
Joshua Humphreys Award
Individual: Bob White, Program Executive Office Integrate Warfare Systems
ONE NAVSEA Teamwork Award
Team: Autonomous Dry Dock Survey Team, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division