Across the Department of the Navy (DON) our talented Sailors, Marines and Civilians are continually creating innovative solutions to our most complex problems. I want to recognize top Naval Innovators in our workforce today and inspire the problem solvers of the future.
The SECNAV Innovation Awards Program seeks to recognize top DON individuals or teams who have made significant achievements in 2016 in the following areas:
- Innovation Leadership: Recognizes top naval leaders (military or civilian) who inspire innovation within their organization or team. This can be done by creating an environment that fosters innovation or by removing unnecessary barriers that prevent it from occurring.
- Innovation Catalyst: Identifies the accomplishments of an individual who has made a significant impact to an organization by inspiring others to innovate or by directly supporting the innovative work of others.
- Data Analytics: Recognizes data savvy workforce members who implemented new approaches for using data analytics to improve performance, support decision making, or provide meaningful insight to existing processes.
- Technology Development: Highlights DON achievements in the creation of new or improved hardware, software, or tool(s) (Including, but not limited to: Additive Manufacturing, Robotics, Human- Machine Teaming, Wearables, Virtual Reality, Unmanned Systems, and Renewable Energy).
- Automated Process Development: Identifies members of the DON workforce who i mplemented new approaches to processes or procedures through the use of automation or artificial intelligence that significantly advance mission accomplishment. (Potentially including processes developed in support of new technology adoption.)
- Innovation Scholar (PME/MIDN): These two subcategories recognize top academic achievements by naval officers and enlisted personnel in professional military education (PME) programs and future naval officers currently in commissioning programs (e.g., USNA and NROTC Midshipmen). Academic faculty should nominate top academic papers focused on the future operating environment and emerging operational concepts and capabilities, with an emphasis on Human-Machine Teaming.
- Enlisted Innovator: Identifies the top ideas of our enlisted Sailors or Marines. It is widely known that those closest to the problems often have the best solutions. (This award category is submitted, verified and judged by enlisted Sailors and Marines for enlisted Sailors and Marines.)
- Outside the Box: Recognizes innovative contributions that are cross cutting or that do not neatly align to any of the previously mentioned award categories.
The eligibility period is from 1 January to 31 December 2016. All DON Commands and Organizations should nominate exceptionally worthy innovators for the 2016 SECNAV Innovation awards by submitting the nomination form(s) found above via email to DON_Innovation@navy.mil. The deadline for submissions is 31 December 2016. Winners will be announced in March 2017.
Trophy Design Contest: I am also excited to announce our first ever contest to design new trophies for the SECNAV Innovation Awards. Trophies should be created using cutting edge technology to celebrate the Innovation Award Winners and showcase the talents of our DON Sailors, Marines, and Civilians. The first place designer(s) will receive a copy of their award and recognition as the trophy designer(s). The contest is open to all Sailors, Marines and DON civilians; as individuals or as teams of no more than two (2) people. Details can be found below. The deadline for submissions is 31 December 2016.
The Office of Strategy and Innovation is the responsible organization for this program and will provide further guidance as it becomes available. Questions may be submitted to DON_Innovation@navy.mil.