PENSACOLA, Fla. – A 1994 Gentry High School graduate and Indianola, Mississippi, native was announced as the 2018 Military Instructor of the Year, senior enlisted category, 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.
Williams also built from scratch a brand new curriculum module titled “Fostering Future Leaders” that develops the junior officer and senior enlisted working relationship. This scenario-based training puts officer candidates in extremely uncomfortable and stressful decision-making scenarios, role played with experienced chief petty officers to prepare candidates for situations they will likely encounter within their first few years of naval service.
Representing the top achievers from a pool of more than 8,000 military members, Williams received a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for her accomplishments.
“It is an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to train our Navy’s newest warfighters,” said Williams. “I strive daily to instill in students, peers, and leaders the abilities and character that will get them to their desired professional levels or positions. Every day I am allowed to serve is an honor.”
Williams 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.”
Williams 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 the command’s MTS coordinator, she trained and mentored 10 instructors.
“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."
Williams possesses a Master of Business Administration and is working towards a doctorate in educational leadership from Liberty University.
The NETC IOY 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.