The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) and the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Environmental Awards were presented June 5, in two different ceremonies at the U.S. Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center here.
The SECNAV and CNO Environmental Awards program recognizes Navy and Marine Corps personnel, installations and ships for their exceptional environmental stewardship.
The CNO Environmental Award winners were presented first, and SECNAV winners were announced in a following ceremony.
Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark Ferguson presented the CNO the Environmental Awards on behalf of the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert.
“ I am ever mindful that the strength of this great Navy does not rest with technology or platforms alone – the real capability resides in the people serving and their extraordinary hard work and dedication,” said Ferguson. “The exceptional men and women – Sailors, civilians, and government contractors – receiving awards today seized the opportunity when given to them, and went the extra mile in protecting our environment.
“Over the past several years, the Navy has greatly expanded efforts to make our ships, aircraft, and shore installations more energy efficient. We focus 85 percent of our efforts on identifying and implementing energy efficiencies, which reduces resource consumption and translates directly into greater readiness and enhanced combat capability,” he said.
Commander, Navy Installations Command Vice Adm. William French was in attendance and congratulated the shore installation winners.
“I want to congratulate all of you on your continuing dedication to improve our shore installations environmental readiness and conservation efforts. Your work directly reflects and supports the Navy’s overall environmental stewardship as we continue to increase these endeavors into the 21st century,” said French.
The SECNAV Environment Award winners for FY2011 are as follows:
Cultural Resources Management, Installation – Cultural Resources Management Team, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman – Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command/Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms, Calif.
Environmental Quality, Non-Industrial Installation – Fleet Activities Yokosuka – Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Natural Resources Conservation, Individual or Team – Naval Support Activity Panama City Environmental Office – Miramar Natural Resource Team
Natural Resources Conservation, Small Installation – Pacific Missile Range Facility – Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Sustainability, Industrial Installation – Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach including Detachments Fallbrook and Norco – Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Environment Affairs Department
Environmental Excellence in Weapons System Acquisition – F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Program Office, PMA 265 Green Hornet Team
Environmental Quality, Individual or Team – NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center, Pearl Harbor Environmental Quality Team
Environment Quality, Large Ship – USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)
Environmental Restoration, Individual or Team – Mare Island Investigation Area H1 Restoration Team – NAVFAC Base Realignment and Closure Program Management Office – Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Partnering Team
Environmental Restoration, Installation – Portsmouth Naval Shipyard – Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
Awards were presented in a variety of categories including natural resources conservation, cultural resources management, environmental quality, pollution prevention and environmental restoration.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff , June 7, 2012; Image: US Navy