NAVY LEAGUE NEWS
Honorable J. William
Middendorf II Award for
Engineering Excellence
; NAVY MACHINIST’S MATE
SENIOR CHIEF MICHAEL D.
CONNERS
As leading chief petty officer of the
Main Propulsion Divisions onboard
the amphibious transport dock ship
USS Dubuque, Conners’ technical
knowledge and planning skills
proved vital to a multitude of repairs
to propulsion and engineering systems that would typically be
assigned to depot-level repair facilities. He was the driving force behind
Dubuque’s outstanding results during
the Board of Inspection and Survey,
engineering certification process and
eventful seven-month Western
Pacific/Indian Ocean Deployment
that included the takedown of the
pirated container ship M/V Magellan
Star off Somalia, humanitarian assistance provided to Pakistan and multiple Theater Security Cooperation
missions to five foreign nations. The
successes of Main Propulsion
Divisions’ numerous re-enlistments,
qualifications and advancements
bear proof of his impact and constant
drive to emphasize the strengths of
each Sailor.
Adm. Ben Moreell Award
for Logistics Competence
(Officer)
; NAVY LT. BRANDON M.
CARLL
While serving as the supply officer
for the Los Angeles-class subma-
rine USS City of Corpus Christi,
Carll led a group of 20 Sailors to
winning two supply “Blue E”
awards while managing nearly $7
million in repair parts expendi-
tures and a food service operation
valued at $3 million. Additionally,
he was recognized fleet-wide in
2010 with the Vice Adm. Robert F.
Batchelder award for outstanding
operational supply performance.
His logistics and tactical support
was critical during five missions
vital to national security and six
Western Pacific Theater Security
Cooperation port visits.
Adm. Ben Moreell Award
for Logistics Competence
(Enlisted)
; MARINE CORPS STAFF SGT.
ROBERT A. BROWN
As a Warfighter Express Service Team
noncommissioned officer-in-charge,
Brown was able to provide improved
mobile exchange services to more
than 14,000 Marines and Sailors
spread out over 57 combat patrol
bases. Implementing improvements
to a complex merchandise procure-
ment process, he increased inventory
and product variety by maximizing
use of the Warfighter Express Service
Team Point-of-Sale computer pro-
gram. By implementing and operat-
ing the Cheetah Morale Satellite
Systems, he further helped maintain
the front-line troops’ overall spirits.
His creativity and resourcefulness led
to the development of a night mobile
exchange operation capability that
did not exist before on convoy runs,
allowing service members to shop at
night. His planning prowess proved
pivotal when he proposed running
simultaneous Warfighter Express
Service Team convoy runs, doubling
the amount of coverage provided to
service members without the aid of
additional manpower or equipment,
by simply adjusting the convoy
schedule.
Naval Intelligence
Foundation Award for
Excellence in Operational
Intelligence Support to
the Fleet
; NAVY CMDR. MICHAEL N.
OLUVIC
As the senior intelligence officer of a
Joint Special Operations Task Force
(JSOTF) tasked with high-risk
capture/kill missions Oluvic man-
aged and led a cross-functional
directorate of joint intelligence pro-
fessionals. Despite maintaining one
of the highest operational tempos in
the naval intelligence community,
he built a robust department of
more than 150 military and civilian
personnel, ensuring they had the
right training and support for mis-
sion success. His leadership helped
maintain 95 percent retention, a 100
percent physical readiness passing
rate, 80 percent advancement rate
including five chief petty officer
selects, and 100 percent of eligible
personnel qualifying as Expe-
ditionary Warfare Specialists. Three
of his intelligence professionals were
selected as Sailor or Senior Sailor of
the Quarter and one as Sailor of the
Year. These hand-selected personnel
regularly supported operational
requirements in Iraq, Afghanistan,
Africa and other crisis locations
through assignments to JSOTFs.
Vincent T. Hirsch
Maritime Award for
Outstanding Leadership
; WILLIAM J. KENWELL
During his 30 years as a transporta-
tion and maritime industry execu-
tive, Kenwell has contributed to
defining solutions to complex
maritime-related transportation
problems, and provided exception-
al support to the U.S. armed forces.
Currently the senior vice president
and chief commercial officer of
Maersk Line Ltd., the largest U.S.-
flag carrier in the international
trades, Kenwell previously held
executive positions with Sea-Land
Services and has been an active
participant in joint industry-
Defense Department groups work-
ing to provide strategic sealift for
the United States in time of nation-
al need. As an active participant in
a number of defense-related organ-
izations, Kenwell’s management
and leadership have assisted gov-
ernment and maritime industry
efforts to improve the nation’s
capability to deliver war materials
and humanitarian assistance sup-
plies worldwide.
