Sunday, May 04, 2014

Washington D.C. National Naval Officers Association Presents Scholarships To Local College-Bound Seniors



From Washington, D.C. Chapter of the National Naval Officers Association Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Washington, D.C. Chapter of the National Naval Officers Association (DCNNOA) awarded 29 scholarships during the 26th Annual Ester Boone Memorial Scholarship Banquet held May 3.

Over $45,000 in scholarships were presented to college-bound high school seniors from Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., with recipients receiving awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.

"The NNOA and Navy have long recognized the value and benefits of a college education," said Vice Admiral Michelle Howard, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3/N5), the event's keynote speaker. "These awards celebrate not only the past achievements of these outstanding young men and women, but are DCNNOA's active investment in their future."

The DCNNOA scholarships are made possible due to generous private and corporate donations. Many of the scholarships are based on criteria developed by the donors, such as academic proficiency, extracurricular activities, community service, and financial need.

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) scholarships were awarded to highly qualified high school seniors who demonstrated scholastic aptitude and planned to major in a STEM related area of study.

Two $5,000 STEM scholarships were awarded to Helen Jung, from McLean High School, and Ade Samuel, from Herndon High School. Jung has a 4.24 GPA, is a member of the National Honor Society and the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and plans to major in biology when she enters college. Samuel's accomplishments include a 4.39 GPA, membership in the National Honor Society, and a 2nd place finish in the Fairfax County Regional Science Fair (Environmental Management). He plans to major in chemical engineering.

Scholarship recipients demonstrated a wide range of interests and activities, to include leadership positions in student government and engineering and linguistic clubs; success as varsity athletes; participation in military JROTC programs; musical and artistic achievement; and volunteer support at libraries, hospitals, writing centers and food kitchens.

"The students we are honoring tonight are truly an inspiration," said Capt. (ret) Tom Abernethy, DCNNOA president. "We are grateful to their parents, educators and mentors. We thank the community organizations committed to promoting the value of education and for partnering with us. We look forward to strengthening these partnerships and continuing to help develop leaders of character."

The National Naval Officers Association (NNOA) actively supports the sea services in the development of a diverse officer corps through recruitment, mentoring, and professional development. Since its founding in 1972, NNOA has established and maintained a positive image of the sea services in the local community. The organization is sanctioned by the Secretaries of the Navy and Transportation and is a member of the Navy and Marine Corps Council.

USNS Spearhead Departs U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Operations After Completing Series of Africa Partnership Station Engagements



By U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy's first-in-class joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) left the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, May 2, after more than three months of operating in the European and African theaters.

Since entering the theater in late January, Spearhead conducted maritime security operations in the Mediterranean, participated in multinational maritime exercises Saharan Express and Obangame Express, conducted a bi-lateral maritime law enforcement operation, and delivered more than 22.5 tons of humanitarian supplies under the U.S. Navy's Project Handclasp program.

"I am extremely proud of the work Spearhead has achieved in theater, primarily for her efforts in supporting Africa Partnership Station and the pillars that program represents," said Vice Adm. Phil Davidson, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, who recently visited the ship during a port visit in Gabon. "I commend the Sailors and civilians who performed superbly over the course of their work here in U.S. 6th Fleet. They accomplished a wide range of mission sets and had a positive impact on maritime security."

In addition to the Express series exercises, Spearhead conducted Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP) with Ghana, patrolling Ghanaian waters with an embarked boarding team consisting of Ghanaian navy and marine police personnel, a Ghana fisheries agent, and members of a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment. The combined boarding team boarded three vessels fishing illegally, and the fisheries agent recorded six infractions under Ghana fisheries regulations.

"Missions like AMLEP showed just how important those types of activities are to partnerships and maritime security," said Capt. Marc Lederer, Africa Partnership Station mission commander embarked on Spearhead. "The civilian mariners and military detachment exemplified an outstanding synergy to execute this deployment. We acted as one team and integrated our African partners into that unity for each engagement."

Spearhead also embarked a U.S. Marine Corps squad for a crisis response exercise off the coast of Liberia. The vessel hosted Liberian coast guardsmen for a shipboard familiarization visit while the Marine Corps personnel launched ashore.

Spearhead concluded her time in Africa with a port visit in Libreville, Gabon, where the civilian and military crew conducted a community service project to assist the country's national art school. The ship also hosted a reception for Gabonese dignitaries.

Civil service mariners aboard Spearhead were glad to play a part achieving the multi-faceted missions while Spearhead was deployed to U.S. 6th Fleet.

"In my 25 years with MSC, this is the best group I've ever sailed with, CIVMAR and military," said Capt. Doug Casavant, civil service master aboard Spearhead. "We have worked hard together, and we're leaving a good legacy."

After it leaves U.S. 6th Fleet, Spearhead will briefly return to its layberth at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., for a maintenance period before continuing its maiden deployment as scheduled to U.S. 4th Fleet.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts a full range of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation missions in concert with coalition, joint, interagency, and other partners in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa.