NAVY INFORMATION DOMINANCE FORCES, SUFFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Rear Adm. Matthew J. Kohler, Navy Information Dominance Forces' (NAVIDFOR) Commander, announced the command's Senior and Junior Sailors of the Year, as well as its Senior and Junior Civilians of the Year during an all-hands call at its headquarters in Suffolk, Va., Dec.14.
Yeoman 2nd Class(IDW/SW) Kyanna T. Cherry, recognized as the command's Junior Sailor of the Year emphasized her surprise. "I didn't feel confident I'd win, considering my competition," said the New York native. "I am humbled and will continue to keep trying to do the best I can every day. It is a direct reflection of my leadership for pushing me that I received this recognition."
As the Assistant Leading Petty Officer and go-to person of the Headquarters Staff Administrative Directorate, Cherry performed numerous administrative functions to include facilitating Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) training to more than 675 command personnel. Additionally, she played a vital role in the data collection and processing of the Command Climate Survey Command Assessment Team (CAT) in efforts to help maintain a positive working environment.
"I too am honored and deeply humbled to be chosen from among some of the most talented, caring, and hard-working First Class Petty Officers I've ever met," said Cryptologic Technician 1st Class(IDW) Ian M. Wyatt, NAVIDFOR's Senior Sailor of the Year.
Wyatt, who hails from Washington state, was the driving force in the success of the domain language program, providing the highest quality global language training to ensure maximum CTI readiness throughout the Fleet. He personally vetted and validated National Cryptologic School and vendor requirements resulting in the successful completion of all required language training events.
A Navy veteran of 16 years, Wyatt also provided invaluable insight from a Type Commander's perspective on critical issues pertaining to the acquisition and execution of foreign language training as the Navy Information Dominance Forces representative at the recent 2015 Command Language Program Manager working group at Center for Information Dominance, Pensacola, Florida. His efforts significantly contributed to the Fleet's improved language readiness posture, support to Fleet and joint operations, and overall warfare readiness.
During the event, the admiral also drew attention to Mike Krump and Greg M. Jimenez, who were selected as Junior and Senior Civilians of the Year.
Krump played a critical role supporting Fleet C5I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems and Intelligence) readiness and Interoperability as a member of the Deploying Group System Integration and Testing, Pacific (DGSIT PAC) team, NAVIDFOR N431 (Navy Fleet FAM & DGSIT). His technical expertise, indefatigable support of afloat operators and hard work served as a force multiplier for NAVIDFOR's critical mission delivering DGSIT services to the Fleet.
"I've never thought of personal awards as something to go after, but it's always nice to be recognized for doing the basics of your job," said Krump. "I'm certain there were many equally if not more deserving candidates, not only from the DGSIT program, but throughout NAVIDFOR. I'm fortunate that I enjoy and believe in what I do, which makes doing the 'extras' seem like ops normal."
According to NAVIDFOR's Deputy Commander, Mark Kosnik, this year's selection process was extremely challenging, given the high caliber and outstanding performance of NAVIDFOR's military and civilian personnel.
"This year's winners were recognized by their peers and recommended by their supervisors for outstanding performance in all aspects of their job and for making a significant impact on NAVIDFOR's man, train and equip mission in 2015," said Kosnik. "Their diligence, can-do attitude, and willingness to go the extra mile substantially improved the readiness of Information Dominance Forces across the Navy."
Jimenez was originally scheduled to join the command's N3 (Navy Operations) as a readiness analyst with specific expertise in the meteorology/oceanography mission area as part of NAVIDFOR's realignment, but when a gap was identified in the senior military/deputy billet, he volunteered to step up and performed flawlessly as the Deputy N3, according to leadership. Jimenez quickly gained an understanding of all Information Dominance mission areas, and provided leadership, energy and flexibility, working across all codes to develop staff and deliver a large number of readiness projects, briefs, and information papers tasked to the NAVIDFOR staff.
"I was very surprised, did not expect this at all and view this as recognition for all the great work the entire N3 has done this past year," said Jimenez. "I am humbled and honored to be working in the N3 — the most dedicated, hard-working group of professionals I know."
A common reflection from the command's awardees has been their modesty at being honored as NAVIDFOR's Senior and Junior Sailors of the Year, as well as its Senior and Junior Civilians of the Year.
"Our awardees have distinguished themselves by not just consistently going above and beyond what is expected of them, but by taking all who were with them to that place of higher standards every day," added Kohler. "Congratulations to all four awardees and your shipmates! I am extremely proud of all of you and thank you for all you do to ensure the warfighting readiness of the fleet."
NAVIDFOR's mission is to drive readiness for global ID commands both afloat and ashore and to free the operational ID commands from administrative distractions so they can focus on operations.
For more information about NAVIDFOR, visit http://www.navidfor.navy.mil/ and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/USNavyInformationDominanceForces.
For more news from Navy Information Dominance Forces, visit www.navy.mil/local/navidfor/.