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PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) announced the 2019 Shore and Sea Sailors of the Year (SOY) via Naval message, April 1.
Sailor of the Year is a time-honored tradition introduced in 1972 by Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Whittet. This annual competition is held to recognize the superior performance of the top Sailors in the Navy, who exemplify professionalism and the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment.
The 2019 Sea Sailor of the Year was awarded to Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 1st Class Britany Acker, assigned to the Blue Crew of the Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727).
Acker is from Wardsville, Missouri. She was selected for the Enlisted Women in Submarines Program after working as a junior staff instructor at Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Charleston, South Carolina. She reported to Michigan Blue in February 2017.
“When given the opportunity to serve on submarines I was ecstatic. Serving with my fellow submariners, past and present, is an honor I cannot put into words,” said Acker. “Winning COMSUBPAC Sea Sailor of the Year is a culmination of my division and my fellow submariners’ teamwork throughout the year. I am extremely honored to be representing them and USS Michigan this year; I could not have done it without all of their support and hard work.”
The 2019 Shore Sailor of the Year was awarded to Master-at-Arms 1st Class Will Finley, assigned to Naval Submarine Support Center (NSSC) Pearl Harbor.
Having served in the Navy for 18 years, Finley’s previous commands include Naval Air Station Lemoore, Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Joint Forces Command Naples, Navy Region Southwest, Naval Air Forces, Atsugi, and he completed tours in Afghanistan and South Korea. He reported to NSSC Pearl Harbor in January 2018.
“Every command that I have been assigned to, I have worked hard and taken care of people,” said Finley. “The submarine force works extremely hard, and they value and recognize hard work. I wouldn’t be here without the support of my chain of command. It was amazing seeing how many people believed in me, and seeing how much they value my contributions to the submarine force. I am grateful and honored to be named the COMSUBPAC Sailor of the Year.”
Rear Adm. Blake Converse, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, thanked all of the COMSUBPAC Sailors of the Year for their outstanding performance in 2019.
“We are a Force comprised of talented, capable and motivated Sailors, and these exemplary First Class Petty Officers represent the best of the best,” said Converse. “They are the backbone of our operational readiness today, and the future leaders of our Submarine Force for years to come. Bravo Zulu and thank you to each of you for your dedication and commitment to our Submarine Force and our Nation.”
The finalists for Sea Sailor of the Year were:
- Logistics Specialist 1st Class Jamie Jacob, USS Frank Cable (AS 40)
- Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 1st Class William Bowes, USS Tucson (SSN 770)
- Electronics Technician (Nuclear) 1st Class Thomas Jones, USS Seawolf (SSN 21)
- Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 1st Class Jacob Pellowski, USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) (Gold)
The finalists for Shore Sailor of the Year were:
- Legalman 1st Class Stacy Oglesby, Submarine Squadron 15
- Logistics Specialist (Submarines) 1st Class Corey Burgan, Priority Material Office
- Navy Diver 1st Class Benjamin Bowen, Undersea Rescue Command
- Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Andrew Mullen, Naval Ocean Processing Facility, Whidbey Island
As the Senior Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year for COMSUBPAC, the next round of competition will be competing in the 2019 Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Sailor of the Year competition.
| Date Taken: | 04.15.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 04.16.2020 19:13 |
| Story ID: | 367520 |
| Location: | PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, US |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | WARDSVILLE, MISSOURI, US |
| Web Views: | 465 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Pacific Submarine Force Announces Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year, by CPO Amanda Gray, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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