CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// 
ROUTINE 
R 311522Z JUL 24 MID120001310835U 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC 
TO NAVADMIN 
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC 
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UNCLAS 
 
NAVADMIN 150/24 
 
MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N2N6/JUL// 
 
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2024 OCEANOGRAPHER OF THE NAVY AWARD NOMINATIONS// 
 
REF/A/INST/OPNAV/20JUN19// 
 
NARR/REF A IS CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS INSTRUCTION NAVAL OCEANOGRAPHY AWARD 
PROGRAM WHICH ESTABLISHES AWARDS TO RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE 
FIELD OF NAVAL OCEANOGRAPHY// 
 
POC/ELIZABETH ROONEY/LT/OPNAV N2N6E/TEL:  (703) 614-1847/EMAIL: 
elizabeth.c.rooney2.mil@us.navy.mil// 
POC/JP GARSTKA/CAPT/OPNAV N2N6E/TEL:  (703) 614-1864/EMAIL: 
john.p.garstka.mil@us.navy.mil// 
 
RMKS/1.  The Naval Oceanography Awards program was established to recognize 
outstanding achievement in the field of Naval Oceanography by Officers, Chief 
Petty Officers, and civilians.  The award is sponsored by the Oceanographer 
of the Navy per reference (a). 
 
2.  Award Criteria and Eligibility.  One awardee will be selected for each of 
the following awards: 
    a.  Captain Richard C. Steere Award recognizes junior officers afloat or 
    ashore for their leadership, performance, special accomplishments, and 
expert application of the meteorology and oceanography sciences.  U.S. Navy 
Active and Reserve Officers in the paygrades of O1-O3 with designators of 
1800/6800 are eligible. 
    b.  The Commander Mary Sears Award recognizes mid-grade officers who 
    demonstrate sustained superior performance, outstanding leadership 
ability, personal initiative, cooperation, adaptability, outstanding military 
bearing, and exemplary military and professional conduct.  U.S. Navy Active 
and Reserve Officers in the paygrade of O-4 with designators of 1800/6800 are 
eligible. 
    c.  The Chief Aerographers Mate John Dungan Jr. Award recognizes Navy 
senior enlisted in the oceanography community, afloat or ashore, for their 
leadership, performance, special accomplishments, and expertise in 
forecasting and analysis in the applied sciences of meteorology and 
oceanography in support of fleet operations.  U.S. Navy Active and Reserve 
component Chief and Senior Chief Petty Officer Aerographers Mates are 
eligible. 
    d.  The Matthew Henson Award recognizes Naval Oceanography civilian 
    employees for their leadership, performance, special accomplishments, and 
    expert application of the meteorology and oceanography sciences in 
support of Naval operations.  Department of the Navy civilian employees GS-13 
at or below are eligible. 
 
3.  Nominations.  The period of eligibility is from 1 October 2023 to 
30 September 2024.  Commands should submit nomination packages as specified 
in reference (a).  Packages must arrive to the Oceanographer of the Navy via 
email to LT Elizabeth Rooney at elizabeth.c.rooney2.mil@us.navy.mil and 
CAPT John Garstka at john.p.garstka.mil@us.navy.mil no later than 13 
October 2024.  Nominations must be unclassified and submitted on command 
letterhead by scan and email (preferred) or hard copy (secondary).   
Nomination packages must include: 
    a.  Name, rank or grade, and contact information (phone number and 
email). 
    b.  Job title, pay plan, and occupation code organization and location. 
    c.  Date of commission/promotion history (Officer), pay entry base date 
    /advancement history (Enlisted), or entrance of duty/employment history. 
    d.  Active duty assignments/employment (inclusive dates/in reverse 
    chronological order). 
    e.  Significant prior awards (personal, service, campaign/in reverse 
    chronological order). 
    f.  Education (year, degree, school, major field of study). 
    g.  Command letter of endorsement to include the Commanding Officer's 
    contact information (phone number and email). 
    h.  Significant accomplishments in the past year (bullet format). 
    i.  One page biography (include membership in professional or 
scientific societies, civic organizations, etc). 
 
4.  Recognition.  The Oceanographer of the Navy will announce the award by 
Message on or about the birthday of Naval Oceanography, 6 December 2024, and 
will recognize the awardee in person or by their respective Commanding 
Officer. 
 
5.  Released by VADM Karl O. Thomas, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for 
Information Warfare, OPNAV N2N6.// 
 
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