Last modified Thu., January 17, 2008 - 10:57 AM
Originally created Thursday, January 17, 2008

Individual Successes Part Of Gettysburg Team

By Lt. j.g. Andrew Bonderud, USS Gettysburg PAO

Many of Gettysburg's Sailors advanced to the next high paygrade while deployed. Photo courtesy of USS Gettysburg

Gettysburg's recent successful deployment was a product of many individuals' hard work and dedication. Recently, some of Gettysburg's crew have been recognized for their individual achievements. Each one of these crew members have, through their individual successes, helped to create the success that the Gettysburg team enjoyed in 2007.

While deployed, Gettysburg maintained an extremely high level of engineering readiness. This success was due in no small part to the efforts ENC Clifton Knight, the Leading Chief Petty Officer for Auxiliary Division. The Black Engineer of the Year Awards conference recently named him as a "Modern Day Technological Leader." This award recognizes Knight's leadership abilities and technical knowledge. He will be honored at a ceremony in February by the Chief of Naval Operations.

Gettysburg's individual successes were not limited to on board crewmembers. Lt. Shane Dennis, Gettysburg's Main Propulsion Assistant, has been serving an Individual Augmentee assignment on the ground in Iraq, as a part of Gettysburg's contribution to the IA program and in support of the Global War on Terror. His successes there helped to earn him a final interview for a job at the President's Emergency Operations Center at the White House. If selected, he will become a watch stander for senior White House leadership.

Officers and Sailors from USS Gettysburg finish last-minute harbor manuevers as the ship pulls pierside. Photo by MC2 Brian Smarr

Gettysburg's Executive Officer, Cmdr. William Daly, was recently awarded the Arthur Moreau Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies in International Relations and Strategy. This scholarship is awarded to one naval officer to gain a PhD or an additional Masters Degree at a top university.

Daly summarized these individuals' successes, stating "Every member of Gettysburg's crew worked hard and remained focused on the mission. That mission orientation and hard work, by individuals who came together so well as a team, is precisely why this ship and her people are doing so well. It is indeed an honor to be a part of the USS Gettysburg crew."

Lt. Cmdr. Dennis Volpe, Gettysburg's Combat Systems Officer, was awarded the Surface Navy Association's Arleigh Burke Award for Operational Excellence. Volpe was also awarded the Junior Tactician of the Year for the Enterprise Strike Group.