Providence Native Selected as Navy Training’s 2017 Instructor of the Year

by Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. – A 2004 Bayside High School, Virginia Beach, Virginia, graduate and Providence, Rhode Island, native was selected as the 2017 midgrade Military Instructor of the Year (IOY) 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 Francisco Peavy is an instructor at Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station Pensacola. He teaches three courses regarding the operation of cryptologic systems aboard ships and is responsible for 10 instructors ensuring the successful course completion of more than 200 Sailors every year.

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."

Peavy 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.  Peavy supervises the Ship Signal Exploitation Equipment Increment Echo Operator course and maintains and revises the curriculum as needed.

“It has always helped me to remember I am responsible for teaching equipment which my students will directly use, at least for the first three years of their naval career,” said Peavy.  

“This responsibility holds a lot of weight, so it is very satisfying when students nod their heads in affirmation after learning a complex topic.”

Peavy understands that each command offers new opportunities to grow and continue to learn, while sharpening other skills.  

“This is actually my second full tour as a first class petty officer,” said Peavy.  “I was able to work on my leadership skills at my last command, but this command has allowed me to sharpen my skills, while remembering there is ALWAYS something to learn about technical matter and about leadership.”

Out of approximately 8,000 instructors within NETC, Peavy was one of two finalists who competed for the NETC midgrade enlisted 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.”

Peavy is the son of Susana Otero Wilson from Virginia Beach.  He has earned a bachelor’s degree from American Military College.

“I aspire to one day become a chief petty officer, and then a commissioned officer while serving the information warfare community,” said Peavy.

The NETC IOY program recognize Sailors throughout the NETC domain who exhibit 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.