Navy League of the United States

The Navy League of the United States, commonly referred to as The Navy League, is a national association with nearly 50,000 members who advocate for a strong, credible United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Coast Guard and U.S. Merchant Marine.

It was founded, at the suggestion of Theodore Roosevelt, in 1902. The Navy League describes itself as "a civilian organization dedicated to the education of our citizens, including our elected officials, and the support of the men and women of the sea services and their families."

Publications

Seapower magazine and the Almanac of Seapower are the official publications of the Navy League. Seapower is published monthly and focuses on maritime defense news. The Almanac of Seapower is published annually in January.^[1]

Sea services award program

The Navy League presents professional excellence awards every year at its National Convention to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to naval service during the preceding year. Recipients of awards for each branch are selected by service branch boards or committees appointed by the Navy League National President or by service commands. Winners of the awards are presented a certificate and an engraved watch at the awards luncheon during the Navy League's National Convention.^[2]

John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership

The John Paul Jones Award is given to a Navy officer who has made an outstanding contribution to the high standards of leadership. Presented since 1957, this award is named for John Paul Jones, sometimes referred to as the "Father of the United States Navy".

Admiral Claude V. Ricketts Awards for Inspirational Leadership

Two Admiral Claude V. Ricketts awards are given to Navy enlistees who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and professional competence required by their rank. One award is presented to an enlistee with rank of E-7 or above, and a second award is presented to an enlistee with rank of E-6 or below. Presented since 1967, this award is named for Admiral Claude V. Ricketts, who served in the Navy from 1929 to 1964, and from 1961 to 1964 as Vice Chief of Naval Operations.

Captain Winifred Quick Collins Awards for Inspirational Leadership

The two Captain Winifred Quick Collins Awards are awarded to a woman officer and a woman enlistee whose exceptional leadership and performance in their military duties have been accomplished by outstanding contributions that have brought them recognition and reflected credit on women in the naval service. Presented since 1973, the award honors Captain Winifred Collins, who was Chief of Naval Personnel for Women in the United States Navy and Director of the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) from 1957 to 1962.

General John A. Lejeune Award for Inspirational Leadership

The John A Lejeune Award is presented to a Marine Corps officer who has made an outstanding contribution to high standards of Naval leadership. Presented since 1982, this award is named for Lieutenant General John A Lejeune, often referred to as the greatest of all Leathernecks, he was self-educated, fought in three wars, and one of the most respected officers produced by the Corps.

General Gerald C. Thomas Award for Inspirational Leadership

The General Gerald C. Thomas Award is presented to a Marine Corps enlistee who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and professional competence required by rank. Presented since 1969, this award is named for General Gerald C. Thomas, who was the first Marine in history to rise from the enlisted ranks to retire as a four-star general.

David H. Jarvis Award for Inspirational Leadership

The Captain David H. Jarvis Award is awarded to a Coast Guard officer who has made an outstanding contribution to the high standards of leadership traditional in the Coast Guard. Presented since 1971, this award is named for Captain David H. Jarvis, who in 1897 conducted a mission to save several hundred stranded men from starvation in the arctic.

Douglas A. Munro Award for Inspirational Leadership

The Douglas A. Munro Award is awarded to a Coast Guard enlistee who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and professional competence required by rank. Presented since 1971, this award is named for Douglas A. Munro, who is the only member of the United States Coast Guard to have received the Medal of Honor, the United States of America's highest military award.

Arthur L. Johnson Award for Inspirational Leadership

The Captain Arthur L. Johnson Award is awarded to a Military Sealift Command civil service licensed officer in the deck or engineering departments or staff officer in the supply department who has made significant and innovative contributions to the American maritime defense team. Presented since 2000, this award is named after Captain Arthur L. Johnson who, as Master of the SS Virginia Dare in 1942, bravely and successfully fought off enemy submarines, dive-bombers and torpedo planes in a fierce seven-day battle.

Oscar Chappell Award for Inspirational Leadership

The Able Seaman Oscar Chappell Award is awarded to a Military Sealift Command civil service unlicensed crew member who displays selfless dedication to shipmates. Presented since 2000, this award is named after Oscar Chappell, who in 1942 saved seven of his shipmates from burning to death after a torpedo attack, by turning the ship into the wind and redirecting the flames from his trapped shipmates onto himself and the wheelhouse.

Naval Intelligence Foundation Award for Exceptional Leadership in Intelligence Support to the Fleet

The Naval Intelligence Foundation Award for Exceptional Leadership in Intelligence Support to the Fleet is awarded to an officer of the sea services in the grade of O-4, O-5, or O-6 who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in providing excellence in operational intelligence support to the fleet. Presented since 2001, this award is sponsored in cooperation with the Naval Intelligence Foundation in an effort to preserve, extend, and extol the culture and heritage of Naval Intelligence, the oldest intelligence service in the United States.

Robert M. Thompson Award for Outstanding Civilian Leadership

The Robert M. Thompson Award is awarded to a civilian, government official, retired Navy or Marine Corps officer or retired enlisted person who has made a personal contribution to furthering the importance of sea power through his or her efforts as a civilian. Presented since 1957, this award is named for Robert M. Thomson, who is known as The Father of the Navy League.

Rear Admiral William S. Parsons Award for Scientific and Technical Progress

The Rear Admiral William S. Parsons Award is awarded to a Navy or Marine Corps office, enlistee or civilian who has made an outstanding contribution in any field of science that has furthered the development and progress of the Navy or Marine Corps. Presented since 1957, this award is named for Admiral William S. Parsons.

Stephen Decatur Award for Operational Competence

The Stephen Decatur Award is awarded to a Navy officer or enlistee who has made an outstanding personal contribution in the course of actual naval operations that has advanced the readiness and competence of the naval service. Presented since 1957, this award is named for Commodore Stephen Decatur, who is notable for his many naval victories in the early 19th century.

General Holland M. Smith Award for Operational Competence

The General Holland M. Smith Award is awarded to a Marine Corps officer or enlistee who has made an outstanding personal contribution that has advanced the readiness and competence of the naval service in the course of actual operations. Presented since 1957, this award is named for General Holland M. Smith, who is often known as The Father of Modern U.S. Amphibious Warfare.

Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement

The Alfred Thayer Mahan Award is awarded to a Navy officer, Marine Corps officer, enlistee or civilian who has made a notable literary contribution that has advanced the knowledge of the importance of sea power in the United States. Presented since 1957, this award is named for Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, who was a famous naval theorist.

J. William Middendorf II Award for Engineering Excellence

The J. William Middendorf II Award is awarded to a Navy petty officer who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and professional competence required while attached to a deployed ship of the operating fleet. Presented since 1984, this award is named after the Honorable J. William Middendorf II who was a US diplomat and Secretary of the Navy.

Admiral Ben Moreell Awards for Logistics Competence

The Admiral Ben Moreell Award is awarded to a Navy or Marine Corps officer and a Navy or Marine Corps enlistee who has made an outstanding personal contribution that has advanced the logistics readiness and competence of the naval service. Presented since 1984, this award is named for Admiral Ben Moreell, who directed the expansion of the Naval Shore Establishment in the United States and the building of advanced bases overseas.

Vincent T. Hirsch Maritime Award

The Vincent T. Hirsch Maritime Award is presented to an individual in private or public life whose efforts and/or achievements have contributed substantially to an increased public awareness of the vital role of a privately owned U.S.-flag merchant fleet to both the United States defense establishment and to the nation's economic well being. This award is named for a patron of the Merchant Marine and past National President of the Navy League.

See also

• Navy League Cadet Corps
• United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps

References

External links

• Official web site of the Navy League of the United States (www.navyleague.org)
• Navy League of the United States National Convention