AWARDS RECOGNITION
SUPPORT OF SEA SERVICE PERSONNEL
The San Diego Council of the United States Navy League is very active in its recognition and support of sea service personnel. Recognition and support are achieved through the following events and activities:
Monthly breakfasts that honor active personnel
The Navy Birthday Ball, Marine Corps Birthday Luncheon, and more.
Formal recognition of outstanding Marines, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen of the Quarter/Year at the various local bases
2024 November Breakfast Event – U.S. Marine Corps Birthday Celebration
2024 October Breakfast Event – U.S. Navy Birthday Celebration
September 2024 – OMBUDSMAN Appreciation Event
2024 August Breakfast Event – Coast Guard Birthday Celebration
2024 July Breakfast Event – 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion
2024 June Breakfast Event – Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3 “Merlins”
2024 May Breakfast Event – Sea Service Member of the Year Awards
San Diego Council held its 4th Annual Sea Service Member of the Year Awards in hosting 90 guests in attendance that included; Naval Education & Training, Force Development, Deputy Commander; Rear Admiral Robert C. Nowakowski, Commander, Third Fleet Command Master Chief Trenton Schmidt and Retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russ Smith. Guest Speaker; RADM Nowkowski provided insight on Navy’s Warfighting Strategy, Culture of Excellence 2.0, Get Real Get Better, Navy Leadership Development Framework 3.0 and Recruting/Retention initiatives. He was presented an appreciation certificate by Vietnam Prisoner of War Survivor; CDR Jim Bedinger, USN(Ret) and President Tracy Owens. Tracy presented the Community Partnership Appreciation Award to Navy Veteran and Business Owner of LC Embroidery & Cleaners; Rolan & Virginia Patzi for their strong support of the council’s sea service programs. An additional thank you to LC Embroidery generous donation of $5k in support of the council’s awards recognition and breakfast sponsor. Congratulations to our 2024 Sea Service Member of the Year Award Winners; Junior Sea Service Member (E4 Category); AO3(AW/SW) Modesty Perez – USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71), Sea Service Member (E5 Category); HM2(FMF) Amir Horton – USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70) and Senior Sea Service Member (E6 Category); AE1(AW/SW) Vinh Nguyen – Commander, Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Wing. Well done to all finalist nominees; JrSSMoY; PR3 Darrion Jackson – HSC3, MM3 Bryan Rodriguez-Lopez – USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70) and LCpl Dylan Studt – 3D LAAD. SSMoY; HM2 Ronnie Delacruz – MAG16, HM2 Daniel Morales-Garcia – HMLA 369, AO2 Gisele Quintero – USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71), Sgt Maaliyah Bagnerise – 3D LAAD and AZ2 Madison Wade – HSC3. SrSSMoY; LS1 Brittnee Brinkley – USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71), AE1 Marianne De Silva – HSM 73, HM1 Raevin Estacio – MACG 38, AO1 Noel Etcheto – VFA 154, IT1 Joshua Lamp – USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70), AWS1 Justin Pickering – HSC3, GSM1 Ninoshka Santana-Ilarraza – USS CHAFFE (DDG 90) and OS1 Amber Huther – USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70).
2024 April Breakfast Event – USS SAN DIEGO
San Diego Council recognized USS SAN DIEGO (LPD 22) Sailor of the Year (FY23) and Sailor of the Quarter (2nd Qtr) Award Winners. Congratulations to BSOQ – SN Cyril Baldwin, SOQ – EN2 Arcelann Calado and JSOY – QM2 Neshaun Gill, SSOY – MM1 Robby Cruz. Additional special awards recognition was presented to SAN DIEGO Culinary Specialists; CSSN Maycol Sanchez-Castro and CS2 Victor Ralph-Vizcarra for their outstanding presentation of the CPO Birthday Cake. Awards where sponsored by First Command. During the Breakfast Event, Commanding Officer, USS SAN DIEGO; CAPT David Walton served as guest speaker, where he provided awareness on his command responsibilities and the role it plays in today’s modern era. President Tracy Owens presented First Command Community Appreciation Partnership Award for their strong support of the council’s sea service programs and $1,200.00 donation.
2024 March Breakfast Event – Recruit Training Regiment 3rd Battalion
2024 February Breakfast Event – USCG MSRT West
December 2023 – Toys for Tots Drive & End of the Year Appreciation Event
November 2023 – Marine Corps Birthday Celebration
Awards Recognition at MCAS Miramar, Nov 1, 2023
October 2023 – Navy Birthday Celebration
September 2023 – OMBUDSMAN Appreciation Event
August 2023 – Coast Guard Birthday Celebration
Awards Recognition at MCAS Miramar
2023 July Breakfast Event – Spirit of Independence!
2023 June Breakfast Event
2023 May Breakfast Event – Sea Service Member of the Year Awards
2023 April Breakfast Event
2023 March Breakfast Event
2023 February Breakfast Event
December – Toys for Tots Drive & End of the Year Appreciation Event
Special Thank you to Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel Rick Mitrovich in
sponsoring December’s Breakfast for Destroyer Squadron ONE Sailor of the
Quarter Award Winners and the 12th Marine Corps District and Marine
Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 in support or our council’s first Toys
for Tots Drive.
Guest Speaker Commodore, Desrtoyer Squadron ONE; CAPT Tom Chekouras, who
was presented autograph book; “Patriot, Prisoner, Survivor: An American
Family At War” by Jim Bedinger. During this special event the San Diego
Council recognized its Sponsors and Volunteers for their outstanding
support throughout the 2022 Year. Including, presenting over 120 toys
to the Marines in support of Toys for Tots and presented numerous door
prizes for those that participated in this special event.
Congratulations to our Homecoming & Field Operations Chairman winning
the 2022 Navy Leaguer of the Year Award and Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel
San Diego winning the Community Affiliate of the Year Award.