The Australian Navy has been recognised for ‘intelligent security practices’ in the 2014 Defence Excellence in Security Awards, announced on 17 September.
The achievements of Navy people this year were significant, with nine nominations resulting in three finalists, and two of the three categories being won. The third category was only open to Defence Industry.
Secretary, Dennis Richardson, and Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, presented the awards in a ceremony in Canberra.
Petty Officer Julie Fairchild of the Patrol Boat Group was the winner of the individual award, just ahead of Robert Brown of Submarine Force and Scott Harmer of the Air Warfare Destroyer Program Management Office in the Defence Materiel Organisation.
Petty Officer Fairchild was described as a ‘security champion’, who was dedicated to enhancing knowledge of those across Navy to foster a strong culture of security awareness.
The team award winners were the Command Security and Emergency Control Team from HMAS Stirling. Represented by Lieutenant Adrian Eddy and Petty Officer Beau Jose, their ‘contagious attitude’ and positive approach to security was what made them stand out.
The Army SharePoint Team and Defence Intelligence Security and Network Operations Development Team were the other two finalists in the group category.
The most outstanding contribution to Defence Industry was made by the Single Information Environment Security Architecture Delivery Team.
[mappress] Press Release, September 24, 2014; Image: Australian Navy