Commander Naval Education and Training Command Honors its Sailor of the Year

By Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Commander Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) recognized the domain's top Sailors during an awards ceremony aboard Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego, Jan. 28.

The NETC domain includes thousands of Sailors at commands around the world.

Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Steven Lukasiewicz, from Recruit Training Command (RTC), Great Lakes, Ill., was recognized by NETC Commander, Rear Adm. Joseph Kilkenny, as the NETC 2010 Sailor of the Year (SOY).

"It feels as if I've won the World Series," said Lukasiewicz, who hails from Chicago. "This is huge. There are no words to describe it and all the support I received from my family, friends and co-workers. It has been a truly wonderful experience spending time with the other Sailor of the Year finalists. What set them apart from other Sailors are their leadership skills, so this has truly been an educational trip."

As the Leading Petty Officer for RTC's Special Programs, Lukasiewicz leads 32 other petty officers as they provide remedial training to Recruits, helping them successfully transition from civilian to Sailor.

During the ceremony, Kilkenny asked the audience to reflect on what it means to be a Sailor.

"As I know you have all heard many times, our Navy has some incredible ships, aircraft, and weapons," Kilkenny said. "Our technology to support these platforms is astounding. Nevertheless, these technological wonders are useless without the Sailors who man them. You might as well take our fleet and moor it to a pier and hangar all our aircraft without the men and women who serve our Navy and our nation."

According to NETC Force Master Chief Petty John Snyder, the six finalists were all highly qualified, knowledgeable and well-spoken.

"We have about the largest shore organization in the Navy and here today we have the top six out of about 3,600 1st class petty officers in the NETC domain," Snyder said. "They're all energetic outstanding instructors, each number one in their own right. Every year I do this I'm energized, but thankful I'm a master chief because when I look back at the 10, 12, or 14-year point in my career, before that as a 1st class I don't think I could have competed with them. That's how good they are. They work very hard. They're dedicated to the job of being an instructor and dedicated to the Navy. They epitomize the core values of honor, courage and commitment."

NETC SOY candidates met their counterparts from other training commands, engaged in one-on-one conversations with NETC's senior leadership, and toured several of NETC's training sites, a local winery and Sea World Jan. 25-28. These activities were in addition to meeting individually with NETC's Sailor of the Year Board to discuss topics ranging from leadership to voluntary education.

Each Sailor received a Navy Commendation Medal and plaque for their hard work and dedication.

Joining Lukasiewicz for the competition were NETC SOY candidates:

Construction Electrician 1st Class Jamal Redding

Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering Detachment, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas

Information Systems Technician 1st Class Cache Spangle

Center for Information Dominance Corry Station, Pensacola, Fla.

Operations Specialist 1st Class Jacqueline Barahona

Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit Dam Neck, Va.

Fire Controlman 1st Class Carley Mickle

Training Support Center Great Lakes, Ill.

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuel) 1st Class Sean Roberts

Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) North Island.

According to Kilkenny, the success of the U.S. Navy is founded in Sailors and their training.

"I've seen many navies, and I've seen many militaries around the world, and it has constantly reinforced to me that the greatest difference between the United States Navy and the other armed services is the knowledge, skills and abilities of our Sailors," Kilkenny said. "Our Navy today is globally deployed, persistently forward and actively engaged. That is your legacy."

For more information about Naval Education and Training Command, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil.

For more news from Naval Education and Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnet/.