Center for Service Support Names Instructors of the Year

NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- Center for Service Support (CSS) on board Naval Station Newport announced the selection of its 2012 Instructors of the Year in the Mid-Grade, Senior and Officer categories Jan. 10.

CSS Commanding Officer Capt. Dana Weiner noted selecting winners from the pool of nominees was challenging because "the quality of all nominees was exceptional, as were their contributions to the CSS mission and commitment to their Learning Sites and students. The task of choosing a single individual in each category was extremely difficult."

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Zachary Wills, a Horn Lake, Miss., native, assigned to the School of Music was selected as Mid-Grade Instructor of the Year. While Wills' primary course of instruction is the French Horn, he took the initiative to qualify as an Advanced Academics and Rehearsal Division instructor, making him one of only a few instructors qualified to teach all three divisions at the School of Music.

Chief Logistics Specialist (SW/AW) Michael Cooke from the Naval Supply Corps School (NSCS) was named Senior Instructor of the Year. Cooke, a Jacksonville, Fla., native, showcased superior technical knowledge and teaching skills while instructing five Joint Aviation Supply Maintenance Material Management (JASMMM) resident and five JASMMM Mobile Training Team courses.

Lt. Carlos Diaz, also selected from NSCS, was named Officer Instructor of the Year. Diaz, a Dorado, Puerto Rico, native, delivered 10 Leadership Management topics and facilitated group discussions for 75 students. He provided each student essential Division Officer/Department Head fundamentals prior to their assuming duties throughout the fleet.

These instructors will now compete for Naval Education and Training Command Instructor of the Year honors in their respective category.

CSS and its seven Learning Sites provide Sailors with the knowledge and skills required to support the fleet's warfighting mission. Each year, the nearly 250 staff and faculty members of CSS deliver training to more than 10,000 personnel serving in the Navy's administration, logistics and media communities.