by Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Public Affairs
PENSACOLA, Fla. – A 2006 Lanier County High School
graduate and Lakeland, Georgia, native was selected as a 2017 Sailor of the Year
(SOY) finalist for Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) at a ceremony onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola at
the National Naval Aviation Museum Dec. 14.
Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st
Class Ashlee Havens is an instructor for the Cryptologic Fleet Operator and
Afloat Cryptologic Manager courses at Information Warfare Training Command
(IWTC) Corry Station in Pensacola. She is
responsible for the administrative and
organizational process of 12 courses and serves as the Advanced Fleet Cryptologic
Systems department leading petty officer.
NETC
Commander Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad congratulated the six finalists 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."
Teaching at IWTC Corry Station for her third year, Havens 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.
She
stressed the importance of teaching Sailors to learn from mistakes to grow into
a confident leader.
“As
an instructor, I’m able to help develop their confidence in themselves as a
Sailor and an operator,” said Havens. “I’m always striving and pushing for them
to do their best, make their own choices, and for them to know that if they
fail they need to take the opportunity to learn and grow from their mistake. This
gives them the confidence to try new things, or to look for better ways to
accomplish a task, mission or goal.”
Out
of approximately 5,600 enlisted staff within NETC, Havens was one of six Sailors
who competed for the title of NETC SOY. She received a Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medal for her achievements.
“Duty
at a training command can be very challenging,” said Havens. “It is up to the
individual to make it a rewarding tour. We have the ability to train junior
Sailors, and some senior Sailors, and give them the tools to begin a successful
Navy career. We have the opportunity to mold Sailors and give them the drive to
be the best they possibly can be, before hitting the fleet.”
The SOY recognition ceremony concluded a week of activities in Pensacola
honoring the nominated candidates.
“Seeing the professionalism and dedication of all
these outstanding Sailor 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.”
Havens
is also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Southern
New Hampshire University.
“My
goal is to continue to share knowledge with those around me in the hopes to
widen this culture of leadership, that had such an influence on me,” said
Havens. “My ultimate goal is to end my career knowing that I have made a
lasting impact on the lives and careers of the Sailors I have had the
opportunity to lead and work with.”
The
NETC SOY 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.
