By Robert J. Fluegel

NAVIFOR Public Affairs Specialist

Naval Information Forces announced its 2017 Sea, Shore and Reserve Sailors of the Year at an Awards Ceremony on Feb. 8.

During the ceremony, Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class Petty Officer Brandon B. Sneyd, assigned to Navy Information Operations Command, San Diego, was announced as the Senior Sea Sailor of the Year; Aerographer’s Mate 1st Class Petty Officer Pedro J. Henry, assigned to Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Professional Development Center, was announced as the Senior Shore Sailor of the Year; and Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer Chad R. Murray, assigned to Naval Reserve Office of Naval Intelligence Unit 0566, was announced as the Senior Reservist Sailor of the Year.

Sneyd, a native of Springfield, Ill., entered the Navy in March 2007. He graduated from Basic Training Great Lakes, Ill., in 2007 and attended Cryptologic Technician “A” School. His commands include USS Sullivans (DDG68) in Mayport, Fla, JIATF West at Camp H.M. Smith in Honolulu, Hawaii and Navy Information Operations Command, San Diego.

Henry, a native of Morristown, Tenn., entered the Navy in May 1999. He graduated from Basic Training Great Lakes, Ill., in 1999 and attended Seaman Apprentice Training. In June 2002, he graduated from Aerograph’s Mate Apprentice School in Biloxi, Miss. His commands include USS Ticonderoga (CG47) in Pascagoula, Miss., Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Detachment in Fallon, Nev., Mobile Environmental Team in Yokosuka, Japan, Naval Oceanography Anti-Submarine Warfare Center in Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Professional Development Center in Gulfport, Miss.

Murray, a native of Dayton, Ohio, entered the Navy in June 2012. He graduated from Basic Training Great Lakes, Ill., and graduated from Intelligence Specialist “A” and OPINTEL “C” school at the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center (NMITC) in Virginia Beach. His commands include Office of Naval Intelligence Unit 0566.

To be selected as one of the finalists for the Sailor of the Year competition, the sailors displayed a level of professionalism and dedication that identified them as being clearly at the top of their profession in each of their component commands.

The other top sea, shore and reserve finalists were Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer Lisa R. Dougherty, Naval Reserve United States Pacific Command Joint Intelligence Operations Center Unit 0219; Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer Joseph A. Graziano, Naval Reserve Joint Intelligence Center, Central Command Unit 0174; Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer Craig R. Roberts, Office of Naval Intelligence, Kennedy Irregular Warfare Center; Aerographer’s Mate 1st Class Petty Officer Felicia L. Sessler, Naval Reserve Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Reserve Activity Unit 2089; Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer Ryan R. Shaneyfelt, Naval Reserve United States Strategic Command Intel-Offutt; Aerographer’s Mate 1st Class Petty Officer Adam J. Smith, Fleet Weather Center Strike Group Oceanography Team, San Diego; Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer Josephine A. Tucker, Naval Reserve Defense Intelligence Agency Headquarters Unit 0601; Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer Thi N. Vuong, Hopper, Information Services Center and Yeoman 1st Class Petty Officer Stacey S. Williams Benjamin, Naval Information Forces.

“I would like to thank all the family members represented here today,” said NAVIFOR Force Master Chief David Carter. “Your love support and commitment to your sailors is the firm foundation that allowed them to achieve what they accomplished so far and will be the sustaining force that will continue to propel them to future success. They are all outstanding representatives of their commands.”

Deputy Commander, Naval Information Forces, Mr. Matthew Swartz, served as the guest speaker for the ceremony. “I would like to thank the families for the sacrifices that they make every day to allow these sailors to be part of the world’s greatest Navy. Without sailors like these, we would not be the world’s greatest Navy,” he said. “The safety and security that this nation depends on and enjoys every day is provided by the people in this room and they are best of the best.”

Nominated sailors from NAVIFOR commands spent the week in the Norfolk area at a series of luncheons, receptions and meetings with the Sailor of the Year board, the NAVIFOR Force Master Chief and other senior enlisted and officers.

The next step for the Sea and Shore Senior Sailors of the Year was the U.S. Fleet Forces Sailor of the Year competition in February, as well as the chief’s board coming up this summer.

The Sea and Shore Junior Sailors of the Year were also announced at the ceremony. Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Petty Officer Andrew Bennett, NAVIFOR Fleet Intelligence Adaptive Force, Det Pearl Harbor, was announced as the Junior Sea Sailor of the Year and Aerographer’s Mate 2nd Class Petty Officer Brandon Cruz, Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center, Stennis Space Center was announced as the Junior Shore Sailor of the Year.

The Sailor of the Year program was established by the Chief of Naval Operations to recognize those sailors who best represent the large number of dedicated enlisted professionals in a particular command.