CIWT Announces Instructors of the Year

Photo By Michele Diamond | Logo for Center for Information Warfare Training. (U.S. Navy graphic by Michele Diamond)  

PENSACOLA, FL, UNITED STATES

10.31.2017

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Jackson 

Center for Information Warfare Training

The Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) announced its 2017 Instructors of the Year (IOY), Oct. 31, 2017.

CIWT selected Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Nijah Lee as its Junior IOY and Lt. Shannon Vestal as Officer IOY. Both instructors are from Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Virginia Beach. Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class Francisco Peavy was selected as Mid-Grade IOY, and Chief Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) Bryan Shoberg from was selected as Senior IOY. Shoberg and Peavy are both from IWTC Corry Station.

“Our instructors are truly the best in the Navy,” said Capt. Bill Lintz, CIWT commanding officer. “They work hard every day to build the fleet's information warfare experts. The competition was extremely close with the finest of margins between each finalist at every level. I am extremely proud to recognize them for their efforts.”

Lee serves as an instructor for the intelligence specialist “A” school. She provided 977 hours of course instruction to 725 Sailors, contributing to a 96% pass rate. Lee served as a class sponsor for 210 Sailors throughout 15 course convenes, providing mentorship for students that resulted in zero conduct related issues. Additionally, she qualified seven instructors in five units of curriculum, contributing to a 20% increase in readiness and scheduling flexibility.

Vestal instructs the Reserve Naval Intelligence Officer Basic Course (NIOBC). He conducted a major revision of the Reserve Intelligence Officer training program, developing the curriculum and course documentation as well as convening and instructing the course. He repurposed more than 900 course training task list items from the active component NIOBC for integration into the new Reserve curriculum, and monitored 520 hours of total training.

"Lt. Vestal and Petty Officer Lee are excellent standard-bearers for the caliber of instructors we have at IWTC Virginia Beach: the finest military instructors in the world,” said Cmdr. Andrew Boyden, IWTC Virginia Beach’s commanding officer. “Their knowledge, responsiveness and flexibility enables these hard-working and dedicated individuals to inspire those they teach and make our Navy and our nation better."

Peavy serves as course supervisor for the Ships Signal Exploitation Equipment Increment E (SSEE INC E) course. He delivered 492 hours of advanced technical instruction to 67 cryptologic technicians. As Afloat Systems Leading Petty Officer, Peavy led 11 Sailors in the successful delivery of 3,631 hours of instruction. His efforts resulted in five Master Training Specialist qualifications and six Enlisted Information Warfare Specialist qualifications.

Shoberg serves as the division leading chief petty officer and course supervisor for the cryptologic technician (maintenance) “A” school. He leads 13 instructors in providing 2,744 hours of instruction to 120 students annually. He is directly responsible for compiling course critiques, instructor critiques, and quality of life critiques ensuring that students concerns are addressed as necessary. As command training officer, he led 23 program owners managing all required Navy and civilian training for 260 staff and 1,753 students.

“Chief Shoberg and Petty Officer Peavy represent the very best of IWTC Corry Station and we are proud to call them ours,” said Cmdr. Chad Smith, IWTC Corry Station’s commanding officer. “Their hard work, perseverance and absolute commitment to training future information warfare professionals ensure our Sailors are prepared to fight and win across all aspects of information warfare."

Center for Information Warfare Training delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services, enabling optimal performance of information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.

For more news from Center for Information Warfare Training organization, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/cid/, http://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ciwt/, http://www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT/, or http://www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT/.

• Date Taken: 10.31.2017
• Date Posted: 10.31.2017 09:43
• Story ID: 253530
• Location: PENSACOLA, FL, US