by
Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
PENSACOLA,
Fla. – A 1996 Starmount High School, Boonville, North Carolina, graduate and Jonesville,
North Carolina, native was selected as a 2017 officer Military Instructor of
the Year (IOY) finalist for Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) at a
ceremony onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola at the National Naval Aviation
Museum Dec. 14.
While
serving at Information Warfare Training Command Virginia Beach, Virginia, Lt.
Shannon Vestal served as the active and reserve course supervisor at the Naval Intelligence
Officer Basic Course. He taught new intelligence officers in various mission
areas to prepare them for fleet tours.
Rear
Adm. Kyle Cozad, NETC commander, congratulated all the finalists in each
category for their roles in shaping the Navy's future force and for their
contributions to the training and education mission.
"You
represent the best of the very best throughout the domain," said Cozad.
"Each one of you here today has a common theme: a hard work ethic, a drive
to be a better leader, and teamwork. Each and every one of you is a competitor,
and that competitive edge is the thing that makes our Navy better than the
other navies today."
Vestal
is qualified as a Master Training Specialist, which is a designation for demonstrating highly effective teaching skills
and a comprehensive understanding of schoolhouse management, as well as for
taking a leadership role in mentoring, instructing and evaluating instructors
and curriculum.
“I
was able to build a fantastic team concept with truly amazing junior officers
and civilians,” said Vestal. “They
helped me drive the mission when I was away and our teamwork allowed the course
to progress seamlessly over my 37-month tour.
I learned to quickly gauge people, trust, and let them execute the
mission without being hands-on.”
Vestal
said he enjoyed his tour at a training command.
“You
are able to shape and guide new naval officers in a critical time period of
their career,” said Vestal. “You’re setting
the tone for a rewarding career in the intelligence profession, no matter the
length of time they serve.”
Out
of approximately 8,000 instructors within NETC, Vestal was one of two finalists
who competed for the 2017 officer IOY. He received a Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medal for his achievements.
The
IOY recognition ceremony concluded a week of activities in Pensacola honoring
the nominated candidates.
“Seeing
the professionalism and dedication of all these outstanding Instructor of the
Year finalists only validates the phrase ‘Fleet Readiness Starts Here,’” said
NETC Force Master Chief Karim Cole during the ceremony. “I am confident that we have the right people
in place to train, guide and get our Sailors ready to man the fleet.”
Vestal
has a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University.
“I
aspire to complete as many years of naval service I am able to,” said
Vestal. “My goals are leading the
personnel I encounter, impacting the mission, and continuing to develop
personally and professionally in support of the Navy, no matter the job or billet
I fulfill.”
The NETC IOY program recognize Sailors throughout the
NETC domain who exhibit attributes, such as sustained superior performance,
leadership, mentorship, knowledge and teaching of military history and
heritage, self-improvement, command and community involvement, and exemplary
military bearing.
NETC is the largest shore command in the Navy and is
comprised of more than 12,000 military and staff personnel at more than 230
subordinate activities and detachments in the United States and at remote sites
overseas. NETC provides training and education to more than 31,000 students on
any given day.
- - Naval Education and Training Command Public
Affairs
For additional information on the Naval Education and
Training Command, visit the NETC website: https://www.netc.navy.mil or
http://www.navy.mil/local/cnet/. Follow
us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/netcpao and Twitter @netcpao.