Chief Honored as Navy's Missile Defender of the Year

Photo By Clinton Beaird | 180112-N-DD818-4997 ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Jan. 12, 2018) Chief Fire Controlman (Aegis) Zachary Quirk center, the Navy’s 2017 Missile Defender of the Year, poses for a photograph with Rear Adm. John Wade, commander, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) and Capt. Jim Jones, division director, SMWDC Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Division at the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance’s annual awards banquet. SMWDC is increasing the lethality and tactical proficiency of the Surface Fleet as the Surface Warfare community’s Warfighting Development Center (WDC). It is headquartered at Naval Base San Diego with four divisions in Virginia and California focused on Sea Combat, Integrated Air and Missile Defense, Amphibious Warfare, and Mine Warfare. (U.S. Navy photo by Information Management Specialist Laurie Buchanan / Released)  

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

02.01.2018

Courtesy Story

Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC)

Rear Adm. Johnny Wolfe Jr., Program Executive for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) presented the award alongside Riki Ellison, founder and chairman of MDAA. Quirk was recognized along with Army 1st. Lt. Benjamin Schiff, Air Force Lt. Col. Rocco Angiolelli, and Army National Guard Capt. Jason Brewer – recipients of the same honor within their respective branches of service.

Nominees are active duty or reserve officers and enlisted personnel from each branch of service who work within missile defense and are nominated by their peers and commanding officers. Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center – the Surface Navy’s Warfighting Development Center (WDC) - reviews nomination packages and selects the recipient of the award each year. Information about award nomination details and deadlines for submission are distributed annually by naval message.

“Chief Quirk is an inspirational leader, mentor, and tactician, with experience honed through advanced tactical training cycles and operational execution while deployed in a Joint BMD environment,” said Rear Adm. John Wade, commander, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC). “Chief Quirk has a tremendous record of success and he is a true role model for his peers.”

While assigned to Russell, Quirk volunteered for an individual augmentee (IA) assignment that took him to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar where he served as the leading Senior Air Defense technician at the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC). Notably, he was the first enlisted service member since 2014 to qualify as Senior Air Defense Officer (SADO). While at the CAOC, he developed and led combined air and space operations training for ships operating in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Quirk’s training improved naval integration into the combined air and missile defense design. His efforts enhanced communications between Navy, Army, and Air Force joint missile defense units through the implementation of a new Upper Tier BMD communications network. During his deployment he supported Operations Spartan Shield, Inherent Resolve, Restore Hope and Freedom Sentinel.

SMWDC is increasing the lethality and tactical proficiency of the Surface Fleet as the Surface Warfare community’s Warfighting Development Center (WDC). It is headquartered at Naval Base San Diego with four divisions in Virginia and California focused on Sea Combat, Integrated Air and Missile Defense, Amphibious Warfare, and Mine Warfare.

• Date Taken: 02.01.2018
• Date Posted: 02.08.2018 01:33
• Story ID: 265122
• Location: ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, US