Naval Submarine League Honours 2014 Awardees

Hundreds of retired and active duty submarine force leaders, along with their counterparts in the industrial community, descended on Falls Church, Virginia, Oct. 22-23 for the 2014 annual Naval Submarine League (NSL) symposium.

The theme for the NSL’s 32nd symposium was “Expanding Undersea Dominance.”

Eight fleet awards were presented to submariners and civilians who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and technical abilities.

Established in 1986, the Rear Admiral Jack N. Darby Award for Inspirational Leadership and Excellence of Command recognizes a submarine officer who has displayed exceptional leadership in command. One award is presented annually to a submarine commanding officer.

The 2014 recipient was Cmdr. Christopher A. Nash, former commanding officer of Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) (Gold), homeported in Kings Bay, Georgia. He currently is the deputy chief of staff for operations at Commander, Submarine Squadron 10 in Kings Bay.

The Fleet Master Chief Frank A. Lister Award for Exceptional Leadership and Motivation, established in 2000, was awarded to Master Chief Machinist’s Mate (Submarines) Edward Rathgeber, chief of the boat for Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSBN 729) (Blue), homeported in Kings Bay. The award recognizes a submarine chief of the boat who displayed exceptional leadership and motivation of his crew.

The Vice Adm. Charles A. Lockwood Award for Submarine Professional Excellence, also established in 1986, recognizes individuals (active or Reserve) for achievement, contribution, specific action or consistent performance, which best exemplifies the traditional spirit embodied in the submarine force. Three awards are presented annually – one each to an officer, a chief petty officer, and a first class petty officer and below.

The 2014 awardees are: Lt. Adam Matthews assigned to Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Cheyenne (SSN 773), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Senior Chief Electrician’s Mate (Submarines) Zachary Montello from Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Norfolk (SSN 714), homeported in Norfolk, Virginia; and Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (Submarines) Vin Mai assigned to Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Buffalo (SSN 715), also homeported in Pearl Harbor.

The Vice Adm. Guy Reynolds Award for Excellence 2014 was presented to Capt. David Goggins, program manager, Virginia-Class Program Office (PMS 450) in the Program Executive Office, Submarines (PEO SUB), Washington, D.C. He was recognized specifically for his continually demonstrating initiative, innovation, cost efficiency, and fleet focused leadership in his drive to deliver Virginia-class submarines with the greatest capability at a realistic cost in optimal time. USS Minnesota and USS North Dakota were both delivered ahead of schedule and within budget under his management.

The Levering Smith Award for submarine support achievement was presented to Lt. Mark Williams, formerly the electrical/electronic division officer at Naval Submarine Support Facility, New London, Connecticut, and currently assigned to Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C. He was recognized for his outstanding support in supervising more than 160 Sailors, government employees, and contractors conducting maintenance efforts and underway preparations for 15 Groton-based submarines. Specifically, 1,524 maintenance items totaling over 105,000 production man hours over a one-year period were conducted under his leadership.

The Frederick B. Warder Award for outstanding achievement was awarded to Myra Yamada, Commander, Submarine Force Pacific Training Support Department, Pearl Harbor. As the fleet training officer and formal schools coordinator, she provided outstanding dedicated support to 10 surface ships, four air squadrons, 18 Pearl Harbor submarines, three Guam submarines, and two submarine tenders in Guam and Diego Garcia. Yamada took personal ownership in making sure every submarine, surface ship, and aircrew were ready to deploy with the required school graduates.

Established in 1995, the Gold and Silver Dolphin Awards recognize annually the officer and enlisted submariners serving on a commissioned submarine on the anniversary of the Submarine Force (April 11) who have the earliest dates of qualification in submarines.

The Gold Dolphin Award (officer) was presented to Capt. George Norman, who qualified in December 1990 and is the commanding officer of Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726) (Blue), homeported in Bangor, Washington. The Silver Dolphin Award (enlisted) was awarded to and Command Master Chief (Submarines) Eric Antoine, who qualified Sept. 11, 1987 and is the chief of the boat for Seawolf-class attack submarine USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), also homeported in Bangor.

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Press release, Image: US Navy