NAVAL INFORMATION FORCES, SUFFOLK, Va. — Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) announced the Sea and Shore Senior Sailors of the Year at an awards ceremony, March 3.
During the ceremony, Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class (NAC/IDW/AW) Courtney Evers, assigned to Navy Information Operations Detachment, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, was announced as the Sea Sailor of the Year and Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class (IDW/SG) Kevin Owens, assigned to Farragut Technical Analysis Center, Suitland, Maryland, was announced as the Shore Sailor of the Year.
Evers, a native of North Syracuse, New York, entered the Navy in January 2007. She graduated from Basic Training Great Lakes, Illinois in 2007 and attended Cryptologic Technician “A” School. Her commands include Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1), Whidbey Island, Washington, Navy Information Operations Command, Hawaii, and Navy Information Operations Detachment, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Owens, a native of Salisbury, Maryland, entered the Navy in September 2008. He graduated from Basic Training Great Lakes, Illinois in 2008 and attended Cryptologic Technician “A” School. His commands include Navy Information Operations Command Georgia and Farragut Technical Analysis Center, Suitland, Maryland.
To be selected as one of the finalists for the TYCOM (Type Commander) Sailor of the Year competition the Sailors displayed a level of professionalism and dedication that identified them as being clearly at the top of their profession in each of their component commands.
The other top sea and shore finalists were Information Systems Technician 1st Class (IDW/SW/AW) Crystal Arline, Navy-Marine Corps Spectrum Office Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia; Intelligence Specialist 1st Class (IDW/EXW/SW/AW) Brett Garrett, Fleet Intelligence Adaptive Force Detachment, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Aerographer’s Mate 1st Class (IDW/EXW) Daniel Hicks, Naval Oceanography Special Warfare Detachment, Norfolk, Virginia; Aerographer’s Mate 1st Class (IDW/AW/SW) Nadine McBee, Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and Intelligence Specialist 1st Class (IDW/EXW/AW) Aaron Morrison, Kennedy Irregular Warfare Center, Office of Naval Intelligence, Suitland, Maryland.
"I am very proud of all of our finalists for this year's NAVIFOR Sea and Shore Sailor of the Year competition," said NAVIFOR Force Master Chief Toby Ruiz. "It's truly humbling, as we get to see first-handedly, the tremendous talent and dedication they have. It's not just about ships, planes, watch floors, missions, etc. It's more about those superstar Sailors, like all of our Navy Sailors of the Year, who are truly the best of the best!"
"The Master Chiefs who conducted the boards all remarked about how hard we had to work in making our selections, because of the absolute outstanding quality of the candidates we were fortunate to meet and talk with," he added.
Rear Admiral Matthew Kohler, Commander, Naval Information Forces, agreed. "There were great Sailors up for this year's selection and I'm sure there were difficult choices for the board members," he said. "These Sailors are shaping our Navy and positively impacting the Information Warfare Community. It has been a great week spending time with our Navy's absolute best, along with their family members who helped them achieve this level of success."
Nominated Sailors from the NAVIFOR commands spent the week in the Norfolk area at a series of luncheons, receptions and meetings with the Sailor of the Year board, the NAVIFOR Force Master Chief and other senior enlisted and officers.
The next step for the two Senior Sailors of the Year is the U.S. Fleet Forces Sailor of the Year competition at the end of the month and the chief's board this summer.
The Sea and Shore Junior Sailors of the Year were also announced at the ceremony. Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class (IDW/SW/AW) Felicia Elliott, FID Fallon, Nevada was announced as the Sea Junior Sailor of the Year and Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class (IDW/AW) Kelly Mangi, NIMITZ Operational Intelligence Center, Suitland, Maryland was announced as the Shore Junior Sailor of the Year.
The Sailor of the Year program was established by the Chief of Naval Operations to recognize those Sailors who best represent the large number of dedicated professionals in a particular command.
For more information on NAVIFOR, visit the command's web site at www.navidfor.navy.mil or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/USNavyInformationDominanceForces/.