Stevensville native named ’19 Sea, Shore Sailor of the Year at award ceremony
At an award ceremony held in the FCC/C10F Fleet Operations Center at Fort George G. Meade, Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 1st Class Brian Rathell, assigned to Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Hawaii, was named the C10F Sea, Shore Sailor of the Year.
Rathell, a native of Stevensville, attributes his selection as Sailor of the Year to his fellow sailors, mentors and his family.
In 2019, 11nominees from commands across C10F traveled to Fort George G. Meade, where they participated in a final selection board for a chance to represent C10F as Sailor of the Year. While at FCC, the Sailor of the Year candidates toured cultural and historic sites in the area as well as attended a social, where the candidates had the opportunity to meet and talk with senior leadership and the Sailor of the Year board members.
The Sailor of the Year program was established in 1972 by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Whittet.
The intent of the competition is to recognize individual sailors who best represent the ideals of the professional sailor and the Navy. Since its establishment, FCC/C10F has grown into an operational force composed of more than 14,000 active and reserve sailors and civilians organized into 28 active commands, 40 Cyber Mission Force units, and 26 reserve commands around the globe.
FCC serves as the Navy component command to U.S. Space Command and U.S. Cyber Command, and the Navy’s Service Cryptologic Component commander under the National Security Agency/Central Security Service. C10F, the operational arm of FCC, executes its mission through a task force structure similar to other warfare commanders. In this role, C10F provides support of Navy and joint missions in cyber/networks, cryptologic/signals intelligence and space. For news and information from Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet, visit navy.mil/local/FCCC10F/ or follow us on twitter @USFLEETCYBERCOM.