SECNAV, CNO Environmental Awards Presented at Navy Memorial

The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) and the Chief of Naval Operations Environmental Awards were presented June 7 in two different ceremonies at the U.S. Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center here. The annual CNO Environmental Awards program recognizes Navy people, ships and installations for their exceptional environmental stewardship. The CNO Environmental Award winners then move up to compete for the SECNAV Environmental Awards which recognize Navy and Marine Corps individuals, teams, ships and installations for their exceptional environmental stewardship.

Competition categories include natural resources conservation, cultural resources management, environmental quality, pollution prevention and environmental restoration. Vice Adm. Michael K. Loose, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics gave the presenting remarks during the CNO Environmental Awards ceremony. “This is our opportunity for all of us to recognize publicly our environmental superstars and their most impressive accomplishments. Our awardees are the best of the best and they are here as individuals, as team members and all of them are part of the Navy’s command effort,” Loose said.

Naval Station Everett, Wash., received awards at both the CNO and SECNAV levels for pollution prevention in the non-industrial installation category. Kim Rasmussen, compliance manager for Naval Station Everett's Environmental Affairs Department, said she was happy to see the Navy represented at the awards. “It is good to be recognized for all the hard work and effort from a lot of people,” Rasmussen said. She added she would like to see more Navy commands represented at the DOD level.

The Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards were presented June 7 as well, in a separate ceremony at the Pentagon.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Rebekah Blowers, Navy News Service