WEST BETHESDA, Md. –
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division Corporate Communications Division is celebrating a landmark series of team and individual victories, earning formal recognition from enterprise leadership for strategic storytelling, technical skill, and commitment to the warfighter.
The division’s creative and strategic public affairs efforts have drawn high praise from Carderock’s Commanding Officer, Naval Sea Systems Command, and the Navy’s Chief of Information.
ISR 18 Communications Team Captures NAVSEA Excellence Award
The Corporate Communications Division's ISR 18 Communications Team (which included the entirety of Code 103) has won the Fiscal Year 2025 NAVSEA Excellence in Public Affairs Award.
Announced on behalf of Vice Adm. James P. Downey, the NAVSEA Excellence Awards recognize individuals and teams who demonstrate exceptional technical merit, innovation, and dedication to operational readiness.
The NAVSEA selection process is highly competitive, drawing more than 350 submissions from across the warfare centers, shipyards, and regional maintenance centers that comprise the NAVSEA enterprise. The award highlights the strategic impact that communication has on advancing the Navy's engineering and technical missions.
Individual Honors: CY 2025 Navy Public Affairs Awards
In tandem with the team’s enterprise-level honors, the Navy's Chief of Information, Rear Adm. John Robinson, announced the winners of the Calendar Year 2025 Navy Public Affairs Awards.
Administered by CHINFO, these high-visibility awards recognize communication excellence and professional merit across the global Navy public affairs community. According to Robinson, the recipients represent "what right looks like," helping raise the bar for the community at a time when strategic communication is in high demand worldwide.
Two Carderock communication specialists placed at the top of their respective individual categories:
A Legacy of Navy Storytelling Excellence
These ongoing achievements build directly upon the division's stellar performance from the previous year. On August 7, 2025, Carderock Commanding Officer, Capt. Chris Matassa, personally presented Navy Public Affairs Awards to four Corporate Communications employees for their winning CY 2024 CHINFO submissions:
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Civilian Videographer of the Year: Devin Pisner
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Civilian Graphic Designer of the Year: Chalene Simmons
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Graphic Design - Identity Design (First Place): Kristin Behrle, for the NSWC Carderock Division Warfighting Readiness Logo
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Video Series (Honorable Mention): Travis Troller, for his collaborative coverage of HIFOIL testing at the Large Cavitation Channel
"The work you're doing every day and the standard to which you're doing it continues to put the focus on warfighting, warfighters, and the foundation that supports them," Robinson noted in his address to the public affairs community. "I could not be more proud of our team."
“Congratulations to our awardees Alisha, Kristin and the entire Corporate Communications Division,” said Kelley Stirling, director of Corporate Communications Division. “This team produces world-class visual arts, media production, and writing, which continues to ensure that Carderock’s vital contributions to the Fleet are seen, understood, and celebrated across the globe.”
Other Carderock Teams Recognized at the 2025 NAVSEA Excellence Awards
Corporate Communications was not the only Carderock team recognized for excellence this year. Additional NAVSEA Excellence Award recipients include:
Strengthen the NAVSEA Team Award
The Cross-Divisional Fleet Readiness and Training Team was recognized for its contributions to fleet readiness and training. Team members include Laurent D. Edgell (team lead), Sadie I. Johnson, Michael A. Persinger, Noah R. Dever, Jessica S. McDonald, Amanda K. Blumenthal, William F. Poh, Harlan C. Gabriel, Andrew G. Quillin, Mary E. Meares, Joel A. Clark, Gabriel J. Bañuelos, Michael A. Kipp, Austin J. Richter and Timothy R. O'Hara.
Excellence in Information Technology
The NAVSEA Nautilus Transition Team, led by Program Executive Office, Undersea Warfare (PEO UWS), earned the Excellence in Information Technology Award. Carderock team members recognized as part of the effort include Lisa Peterson (co-team lead), Kavita Gangele, Tony Babb, Tim David and Heather Rowe.
About the Awards
NAVSEA Excellence Awards
The Naval Sea Systems Command Excellence Awards are presented annually to recognize civil servants and military personnel who demonstrate outstanding achievements in support of NAVSEA’s mission to design, build, deliver, and maintain ships, submarines, and combat systems for the U.S. Navy. Drawing submissions from a workforce of over 85,000 personnel across the enterprise, the program honors exceptional performance across diverse corporate and technical functional areas—including engineering, logistics, financial management, safety, and public affairs. Winning entries represent the highest standard of dedication to the operational readiness of the warfighter.
Navy Public Affairs Awards
The Navy Public Affairs Awards, administered annually by the Navy's Chief of Information, are the premier recognition program for the Navy's internal communication and public affairs professionals. The awards honor military and civilian communication teams and individuals who demonstrate exceptional professional merit and technical skill. Categories span production excellence (including writing, photography, videography, and graphic design), campaign execution, and leadership. The program rewards those who effectively tell the Navy's story, strengthen internal alignment, and communicate strategic priorities to audiences around the globe.