PENSACOLA, Fla. – A Chesapeake, Virginia, 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.
Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class John P. Payne, Jr., serves as an AN/SLQ-32(V)3 electronic warfare system maintenance instructor at Information Warfare Training Command Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida. He taught over 1,032 hours of AN/SLQ-32(V)3 advanced technical instruction to 18 cryptologic technicians with an overall high academic grade point average of 97.5 percent with zero attrition. As a former course supervisor, he rewrote the AN/SLQ-32(V)3/V4 curriculum, saving the Navy money and ensuring the training is ready and relevant to what technicians see in the fleet. He also led 52 instructors in the delivery of 60,486 hours of instruction across seven courses to 440 joint-service trainees through 44 convenes of the courses.
Payne 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.
“Being an instructor at Corry Station allows me to make a positive impact on Sailors during their early years in the Navy,” said Payne. “It is humbling to be able to teach new Sailors about their job and to provide mentorship to such a motivated group.”
Payne 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."
Payne 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. As a leading petty officer, his division achieved 13 MTS qualifications.
“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."
Payne earned a bachelor’s degree in fire science management from American Military University and is pursuing a master’s degree in leadership from Grand Canyon University.
Payne is the son of Navy retired senior chief John Payne and Cindy Payne of Suffolk, Virginia.
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.
Payne 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.
“Being an instructor at Corry Station allows me to make a positive impact on Sailors during their early years in the Navy,” said Payne. “It is humbling to be able to teach new Sailors about their job and to provide mentorship to such a motivated group.”
Payne 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."
Payne 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. As a leading petty officer, his division achieved 13 MTS qualifications.
“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."
Payne earned a bachelor’s degree in fire science management from American Military University and is pursuing a master’s degree in leadership from Grand Canyon University.
Payne is the son of Navy retired senior chief John Payne and Cindy Payne of Suffolk, Virginia.
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.