Surface Forces Awards First Ever SWO of the Year Award
(December 7, 2009) | 
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| SAN DIEGO (December 1, 2009 - NNS) -- The inaugural Surface
Warfare Officer (SWO) of the Year award was presented to a
USS John Paul Jones (JPJ) (DDG 53) Sailor by Commander,
Naval Surface Forces in JPJ's wardroom Nov. 30.
Vice Adm. D. C. Curtis presented the award to Lt. Cmdr.
Jeffrey Tamulevich. |
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| Nov. 17, 2009 - The Surface Warfare Officer of the Year award is presented to Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Tamulevich, left, by Vice Adm. D. C. Curtis, commander, Naval Surface Forces, aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53). Tamulevich, combat systems officer aboard John Paul Jones, was one of 25 nominees selected as the first-ever surface warfare officer. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel J. Taylor
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Twenty-five officers from throughout surface forces were
nominated by their respective leadership for the award.
"This award recognizes the best of the best in the surface
warfare community and, as expected, the competition was
extremely close," said Curtis. "Everyone nominated for this
elite group is to be commended and awarded for their
dedication and demonstrated superior performance."
Tamulevich graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a
major in oceanography. He was commissioned in 1999 and now
serves on the JPJ as the combat systems officer.
"I still find myself in awe at having received this
distinction," said Tamulevich. "I know many of the other
nominees and have the highest respect and admiration for
them. They are terrific leaders and mentors in the surface
community, and to find myself as the inaugural recipient of
this award is both humbling and an honor."
JPJ Commanding Officer Cmdr. Sam Hancock was very confident
in his nomination of Tamulevich.
"I was looking for a true leader and warfighter that
personified today's SWO and someone a young officer could
look up to and gain inspiration from," said Hancock. "Tamulevich
is an all around superb naval officer and true warfighter.
He is a standout leader in my wardroom and on the
waterfront. I could not ask for a better officer - he was an
obvious choice."
Several Sailors who work with Tamulevich on a daily basis
offered their opinions regarding the quality of leadership
provided by the SWO of the Year winner.
"I view [Tamulevich] as a leader who is focused on the
mission and the tasks that come with the demands of the U.S.
Navy and our country," said Information Systems Technician
1st Class (SW) Ronnie Scott. "I would jump at the chance to
serve on a ship under his command."
Tamulevich was awarded a Navy Commendation Medal and will be
recognized at the Surface Navy Association Symposium in
January 2010. A plaque in his honor will also be displayed
at the SWO School in Newport, R.I.
The SWO of the Year award was created by Naval Surface
Forces to recognize the SWO who best personifies the ideals
of SWO pride: excellence in warfighting and leadership,
expertise in tactics, engineering and weapons systems and a
commitment to mission accomplishment through superior
professionalism and personal example. | |
By Navy MCS 2nd Class Elena Velazquez
Naval Surface Forces Public Affairs
Copyright 2009
Reprinted from
Navy News Service
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