NORFOLK, Va. - The commander of U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) announced the 2014 USFF Fleet Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year (SOY) during a ceremony hosted by the Hampton Roads Navy League at the Sheraton Waterside in Norfolk, March 27, 2015.
Adm. Phil Davidson announced Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Joe Mendoza Coastal Riverine Group (CRG) 2, Portsmouth, Va., as the 2014 Sea Sailor of the Year and Naval Aircrewmen (Avionics) 1st Class William Ballard, VP-30 Patrol Squadron (VP) 30, Jacksonville, Florida, as the Shore Sailor of the Year.
“All nominees were truly outstanding and represented their respective Type Commanders with distinction,” said Fleet Master Chief Charles Clarke. “Selecting the Sea and Shore Sailors of the Year is always challenging. Regardless of the outcome, I believe the real winners are the Navy and the Sailors who will continue to benefit from the tremendous leadership --- all of these future Chief Petty Officers will bring for many years to come."
Upon the announcement of his selection Mendoza said “I can’t thank enough all the mentors I’ve had coming up in the Navy I can’t thank the chief’s mess enough and I can’t thank, most importantly, my junior Sailors. They’ve worked so hard for me and they are a reflection of me and I’m a reflection of them. It was a great opportunity to be here.” Mendoza will be meritoriously promoted to the rank of chief petty officer by the Chief of Naval Operations this May.
Ballard was humbled by his selection. “It’s just been an honor. My goal is to take this whole experience and take it back and pay it forward to my junior Sailors they are the reason that I’m here,” said Ballard. “I would also like to thank all the mentors and leaders I’ve had the honor of working for. It’s been an amazing time.”
Ballard will go on to the next round of competition at the Chief of Naval Operations Shore SOY competition in May in Washington.
The Sailor of the Year Program was established in 1972 by the then-Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, USN, and then-Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Whittet, USN, to recognize an individual Sailor who best represented the ever- growing group of dedicated professional Sailors at each command and ultimately the Navy. When the program began, only the Atlantic and Pacific Fleet Sailors were recognized. Within 10 years, the Sailor of the Year program was expanded to include the shore establishment and Navy Reserve Sailors.
Finalists for Fleet Sea Sailor of the Year:
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Delita Shields
2D Amphibious Assault Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC
Electrician's Mate 1st Class Alberto Beltran USS OAK HILL (LSD 51) Norfolk, VA
Aerographer's Mate 1st Class Kirk Hying
Naval Oceanography Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Center, Stennis Space Center (SSC), Miss.
Electrician's Mate 1st Class Bradley Monell
USS MARYLAND SSBN 738 (SSBN-738), Norfolk, VA
Electronics Technician 1st Class Bobbie Williams
Naval Forces Europe Detachment Maritime Ashore Support Team (CNE DET MAST),
Boatswain's Mate 1st Joe Mendoza
Coastal Riverine Group (CRG) 2, Portsmouth, Va.
Aviation Electrician's Mate 1st Class Ian MacGregor
Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46, Jacksonville, Fla.
SHORE:
Yeoman 1st Class Raul Ramirez
Navy Munitions Command (NMC) Detachment Rota
Logistics Specialist 1st Tamar Stewart Afloat Training Group (ATG), Norfolk, Va.
Aerographer's Mate 1st Class Elizabeth Clements
Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Professional Development Detachment (NAVMETOCPRODEVDET) Pacific
Information Technician 1st Class Kwelisha Jackson Submarine Force Atlantic (COMSUBLANT)
Equipment Operator 1st Class Sam Sutheimer
Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG) 2
Naval Aircrewmen (Avionics) 1st Class William Ballard VP-30 Patrol Squadron (VP) 30, Jacksonville, Fla.
For more news from U.S. Fleet Forces, visit http://www.cffc.navy.mil/.
| Date Taken: | 03.30.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2015 15:51 |
| Story ID: | 158581 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 157 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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