PANAMA CITY, Fla. –
The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) celebrated the exceptional achievements of its workforce at the 2024 Commanding Officer (CO) and Technical Director’s (TD) Annual Awards Ceremony, March 27.
Dating back to 1975, the NSWC PCD Annual Awards recognizes the top talent and contributions each fiscal year and has grown in scope, now having 15 award categories. This year, 18 awards were presented across 15 programs, recognizing the contributions of 11 individuals and seven teams. Three patents were also highlighted, showcasing the command's commitment to innovation, and inducting two patentees into the NSWC PCD Inventor’s Society.
“I have consistently been impressed by the stories and accomplishments shared with me since my arrival, as well as those I have interacted with and the work I’ve seen walking throughout the command,” said Capt. Paul Stence, Jr., NSWC PCD CO. “It's clear that the individuals and teams we celebrate [at this awards ceremony] represent some of the very best NSWC Panama City Division has to offer the fleet.”
This year's Hall of Fame inductee was John Horton, whose lasting contributions continue to impact the workforce and warfighter. His leadership continued through his encouraging words to the audience.
“The work at this laboratory was challenging and exciting, and very important to the Navy,” said Horton. “In any job, and especially in ours… [it is] important is to develop our people and most of that comes through mentorship…without that people are not going to grow. I am so happy to see that the next generation is succeeding.”
“While we recognized the outstanding achievements of a select group of individuals, our workforce is part of an incredible team that plays a vital role in supporting our mission and delivering critical capabilities to our sailors and marines,” said Dr. Peter Adair, NSWC PCD TD. “Let us also remember that our journey continues…the threat to our security is real. The work accomplished is a vital part of a mission that safeguards freedom and protects the values we hold dear.”
The 2024 Annual Awards Ceremony, recognizing less than five percent of the workforce, demonstrated the high standards of excellence at NSWC PCD. The ceremony can be viewed on NSWC PCD’s Facebook and Defense Visual Information Distribution Service and click for award winner photos via Facebook and LinkedIn.
The 2024 Annual Awards ceremony recognized the following recipients:
John Horton – Hall of Fame
Whitney Gillman – Business Excellence
Scott Burleson – Career Achievement
International Research & Collaborations Team – Collaboration Excellence
Team members: Jesse Ardonne, Chuck Bernstein, Dr. Nathaniel Fuller, Jonathan King, David Malphurs, Tyler Moak, Dr. Nicholas Palermo, Peter Romaine, Sonja Smith, and Dr. Daniel Sternlicht.
Aaron Cole – Dr. David P. Skinner Outstanding Scientific & Engineering
Robotic Process Automation BOT Team – Excellence in Business Innovation
Team members: Cory Bruckschen, Tristan Dickinson, Jenica Lolley, and Rachel Thompson.
Littoral Combat Ship Mine Countermeasures Mission Package Product Support Team – Exceptional Technical Support
Team members: Diana Abee, Molly Allen, Peter Amador, James Bennett, Tina Buddi, Candra Burks, James Burks, Ken Condron, Michael Conley, Natalie Cook, Brian Delmar, Jeffrey Deshazer, Emily Dodson, Lindsey DuPriest, Kent Engelhart, Misty Figlinski, Tiffany Finch, Jody Forcha, Gregory Fossum, Corrie Gann, Adam Griffin, Laura Gullett, Debby Hill, Terri Kesler-Aldridge, Jeremiah LaFountain, Brandy Lewis, Anita McConniel, Jeremy Merry, Lindsay Portas, Steve Rutledge, Linda Schroeder, Honor Six, Robert Smith, Courtney Swearingin, Terry Walters, Jake Wobser, and Andrew Wright.
Bobby Burt – Exemplary Leadership
Haydlee Slutzky – New Employee Exceptional Achievement
Cody Smith – New Employee Exceptional Achievement
Lion Hunter Team – Outstanding Fleet Support
Team members: Paul Auvil, Haley Bickhaus, Angela Cook, Brian Coppola, Thomas Creswell, Ryan Crytzer, Alex Dence, Thomas Fanning, Terry Foster, Kevin Fowler, Sondra Fox, Robbie Freed, Dana Isaacs, Ivan Hvojnik, Jason Mooneyham, Kevin Powell, Fernando Renneke, Marcus Rich, Glenn Sulzberger, Magdalena Tajchman, Adam Vickers, David Walls, and Hank Williams.
Mine Countermeasures C5 Cybersecurity Team – Outstanding Innovation
Team members: Brant Bickhaus and Kate Maglio
Brandy Lewis – Outstanding Organizational Support
Labor Cost Transfer Support Team – Outstanding Organizational Support
Team members: Cory Bruckschen and Jessica Gutierrez
Aisha Houser – Outstanding Program Success
Electronic Procurement Systems Implementation Team – Outstanding Team Achievement
Team members: Tyler Bounds, Tommy Chatman, Jessica Clark, Rob Griffith, Andrew Johns, Jessica Johnson, Jamell Kilgore, Trivia Massaline, Nicole Stevens, Kaitlin Summerville, and Jason Zimmerman.
Ryan Close – Technical Excellence
Evan Sarantos – Technical Excellence
Patents:
“Track Drive with Spring-Biased Feet” –
Dr. Tye Langston and Dane Maglich.
Dane Maglich – inducted into the Inventor’s Society for this invention.
“Diving Helmet Apparatus” –
Edward Downs, Jr.
“Apparatus for Releasing Magnetic Crawler from Ferromagnetic Operating Surface” –
Dr. Tye Langston, David Swedberg, and Dane Maglich.
David Swedberg– inducted into the Inventor’s Society for this invention.