by Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public
Affairs
(NEWPORT NEWS, Va.) - A 2001 Kinston High School graduate and 2017 Saint Leo College graduate with a degree in business, Kinston, North
Carolina, native receives the Senior Sailor of the Year Award serving aboard
USS George Washington.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Quwanda L. Burnett, currently
serving for 16 years, received the award for performing her duties in an
exemplary manner. She impacted the command by performing collateral
duties, volunteering and representing the parent command while becoming a true
ambassador of the Navy.
“I am so very grateful and honored to have received this
award," said Burnett.
Burnett is a culinary specialist responsible for all aspects of the dining (mess decks) and living areas
within the command. Culinary Specialists work in the "heart of the
ship," and are vital in maintaining high crew morale on the ship and every
shore base.
"I believe each sailor makes a difference within the
command," said Master Chief Petty Officer Logistics Specialist Mary Ames, supply department leading chief petty officer. “Sometimes enlisted accomplishment is taken for granted,
discouraging junior sailors from performing at their very best. Being
recognized for individual accomplishments can be a valuable tool to motivate sailors and encourage sailors to perform above and beyond what is expected of
them.”
"For a sailor to be recognized with the honor of Sailor of the Year
they need to be trend setters. By being the Sailor of the Year, the command is
acknowledging that you have set a very high standard for other sailors to
emulate," added Ames.
George Washington is a nuclear powered aircraft carrier home
ported in Norfolk, Virginia. It is one of only 10 currently operational
aircraft carriers in the U.S. Navy and the fourth Navy vessel named after
the first president of the United States.