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SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2024 COPERNICUS AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT//  

POC/FISCHETTI/CIV/AFCEA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION/TEL:  (703) 631-6147
/EMAIL:  edfoundation@afcea.org

REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/162007Z SEP 24//

NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 188/24, FISCAL YEAR 2024 COPERNICUS AWARD NOMINATION//

RMKS/1.  The Chief of Naval Operations is pleased to congratulate the fiscal 
year 2024 Copernicus Award winners.  The Copernicus Award recognizes 
individual contributions to Naval Warfare in the disciplines of Command, 
Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I), Information 
Systems or Information Warfare (IW).  Armed Forces Communications and 
Electronics Association (AFCEA) International and the U.S. Naval Institute 
(USNI) have selected the following Copernicus Award winners for fiscal year 
2024:
     a.  Mr. Rodrick S. Adams, Marine Corps Systems Command
     b.  Mr. Marcus R. Ashcraft, Combat National Mission Team 1
     c.  Mr. Joe L. Betts, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division
     d.  IT1 Christopher J. Bliss, USN, USS LAKE ERIE (CG70)
     e.  Mr. Michael A. Bosch Van Drakenstein, 2D Network Battalion, Marine
     Corps Cyberspace Operations Group
     f.  LCDR Travis L. Carter, USN, Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command
     Detachment West
     g.  Sgt Aidan Causil-Baggott, USMC, Marine Corps Cyberspace Warfare 
Group
     h.  Mr. Jason A. Cisler, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate
     Maintenance Facility
     i.  ITC Colleen V. Civils, USCG, United States Coast Guard Base Guam
     j.  LT Kaitlyn S. Devalk, USCG, 2003 Cyber Protection Team
     k.  RWC Ryan T. Fox, USN, Unmanned Patrol Squadron ONE NINE
     l.  LCDR Benjamin A. Fox, USN, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command
     m.  ET1 Staal M. Githinji, USN, Tactical Communications Command ONE
     n.  LCDR Jaclyn N. Istilart, USN, USS WASP (LHD 1)
     o.  Mr. William Y. Joo, NAVWAR
     p.  LTJG Justin S. Miller, USN, USS MICHAEL MURPHY (DDG 112)
     q.  LTJG Andre S. Pham, USN, USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC 19)
     r.  CWO David A. Poling, USCG, Coast Guard Cyber Command
     s.  Mr. Darren N. Powell, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific
     t.  ET1 Anthony J. Smith, USCG, Coast Guard Cutter KIMBALL
     u.  CWTCS Nicholas F. Tarnay, USN, United States Special Operations 
Command
     v.  Captain Christian M. Thiessen, USMC, I Marine Expeditionary Force
     Information Group
     w.  LCDR Austin R. Van Olst, USN, Carrier Strike Group ELEVEN
     x.  CTI1 William A. Viarnes, USN, Naval Special Warfare Development 
Group
     y.  LT Paul A. Williams, USN, Cyber Strike Activity SIXTY THREE
     z.  CWTC Andrew S. Wolter, USN, Defense Information Systems Agency, 
Europe
     aa.  Major Caleb Y. Wu, USMC, Marine Wing Communications Squadron ONE 
EIGHT

2.  All Copernicus Award winners will receive an invitation from AFCEA and 
USNI inviting them, their spouse/guest, and their Commanding Officer to 
attend an awards reception and presentation ceremony held at the AFCEA 
International /USNI WEST 2025 Conference in San Diego, California at the San 
Diego Convention Center on 28 January 2025.

3.  Released by VADM Karl O. Thomas, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations For 
Information Warfare, OPNAV N2N6.//

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