Arlington Native is Navy Training’s 2018 Sailor of the Year Finalist

From Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. – A 2005 graduate of Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio, Texas and Arlington, Texas, native was announced as a 2018 Sailor of the Year (SOY) finalist for Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) in Pensacola at a ceremony onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola at the National Naval Aviation Museum Dec. 5.

Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Jonathan N. Miller is the Learning Management Office departmental leading petty officer and curriculum manager for 62 courses at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Lemoore, California. He led a team of four curriculum specialists, 109 instructors and 30 course supervisors, responsible for delivering 53,936 instructional hours this past year. He is qualified to instruct six courses, one of which is the longest totaling three months. His team was the initial leg in spearheading the aviation electronics technician rating review for the Ready, Relevant Learning initiative of Sailor 2025, which is the Navy's program to more effectively recruit, develop, manage, reward and retain the force of tomorrow. The initiative’s goal is to provide Sailors the right training at the right time and in the right way.

Miller was one of seven sailors who competed for the title of NETC SOY, representing the top achievers from a pool of more than 8,000 military members. He received a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his achievements.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to train and mentor aviation maintainers,” said Miller. “The Sailors that come through CNATTU Lemoore are among the best I have ever served with. I can’t think of a better way to give back to the Navy that has provided me with so much.”

Miller is part of the team that takes Sailors from “street to fleet” by transforming civilians into highly skilled, operational, and combat-ready warfighters, as well as providing the tools and opportunities for continuous learning and development.

NETC Commander Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad congratulated the finalists for their roles in developing the Navy’s future force and for their contributions to the training and education mission.

"Each of you here today represent the best of the very best in our Navy, making the force development mission a success," said Cozad. "We serve in a great Navy - and that greatness is centered on the initiative, leadership and competitive nature of our people. These Sailors and officers illustrate everything that is right about our Navy and continue to represent our greatest advantage over any competitor and our most important means to achieving our desired ends. Everything that each of you does on a daily basis sets the highest bar when it comes to building a talented fleet for the Navy the nation needs, and it manifests through your recruiting and training accomplishments."

Miller is also qualified as a Master Training Specialist (MTS), 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. Additionally, he qualified nine instructors and 10 Master Training Specialists.

“I am so impressed by the caliber of all of our finalists," said NETC Force Master Chief Karim Cole. "We brought them together at NETC to recognize their tremendous talent and to show them how much we appreciate what they do to train, guide and get our Sailors ready to man the fleet. They all represent a great deal of hard work and sweat that goes into creating a combat credible and lethal Navy and Marine Corps Team."

Miller earned an associate degree from Columbia College and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in engineering management from Arizona State University.

Miller is the son of David and Terry Miller of Arlington, Texas.

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.

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.