PENSACOLA, Fla. – A Southold, New York, native and 2012 graduate of Southold Junior-Senior High School was recognized as Naval Education and Training Command’s (NETC) Military Instructor of the Year (Officer) for 2024 during a ceremony at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Feb. 20, 2025.
Lt. Katherine Bertschi, a Basic Division Officer Course (BDOC) instructor at Mariner Skills Training Center Pacific (MSTCPAC), San Diego, who teaches junior officers maritime warfare, division officer management, leadership, rules of the road and ship handling, was one of five instructors acknowledged for their dedication in training future warfighters for service in the world’s most lethal Navy.
“As BDOC instructors, we are entrusted with the significant responsibility of shaping the future leaders of the Navy," Bertschi said. “We are responsible for laying the foundational building blocks that newly commissioned officers will rely on as they develop their leadership styles to manage a division of Sailors and pursue their qualifications as surface warfare officers, building surface fleet readiness.”
Bertschi says her greatest accomplishment at MSTCPAC is the command’s contribution to the success of junior surface warriors and the Navy’s overall readiness.
“I feel an immense sense of pride when prior students reach out after receiving their surface warfare pin, expressing gratitude to me and the other MSTCPAC instructors for the training they received at the schoolhouse,” Bertschi said. “Their acknowledgment reaffirms my confidence that we are sending the most prepared versions of junior officers to the fleet after they graduate from our courses.”
Bertschi credits much of her success to the values her parents instilled in her at an early age.
“My father, a Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, and my mother, a dedicated schoolteacher, provided me a unique perspective on the importance of commitment and service,” Bertschi said. “My father’s experiences in the military taught me about discipline, resilience and the importance of doing what is right. My mother’s role as a teacher emphasized the significance of nurturing others and fostering a sense of community. She continues to show me how education can empower individuals and transform lives.”
Like many of those who answered our nation’s call to service, Bertschi primarily joined the Navy to be part of a cohesive team with shared values.
“Joining the Navy represented a commitment to a life of service and sacrifice,” Bertschi said. “It offered me the chance to be a part of something larger than myself while working alongside fellow service members who share similar values of honor and devotion to duty.”
Bertschi, a daughter, spouse and mother who has served eight years in the Navy, provides her insight on naval service.
“Aside from having the coolest job in the world, the Navy offers so many opportunities for professional growth and education,” Bertschi said. “The Navy allows sailors to contribute to global stability and national security through missions spanning from direct defense operations to humanitarian efforts and disaster relief. A career in the Navy is also not just a job, it’s a profession that has a profound impact on the lives of those working with or for you while fostering personal growth and camaraderie.”
Instructors serving throughout the MyNavy HR Force Development domain competed against nearly 6,500 instructors for this prestigious distinction. The five awardees demonstrated superior sustained performance in their instructor roles, excelling as leaders and mentors at their respective commands while actively engaging with their commands and local communities.
“Our instructors here today are an exclusive and elite group – the very best of the best, each playing a critical role in ensuring that when the Navy fights, we will fight and win decisively,” said Capt. Gregory Tiner, NETC chief of staff. “In and out of the classroom, each personifies the meaning of personal excellence.”
NETC recruits, trains and delivers those who serve our nation, taking them from “street to fleet,” by transforming civilians into highly skilled, operational, and combat-ready warfighters.
For more information about NETC, visit the command’s website at https://www.netc.navy.mil/ and follow the command’s social media: Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NETCHQ, Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/netc_hq and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/netchq/.
“As BDOC instructors, we are entrusted with the significant responsibility of shaping the future leaders of the Navy," Bertschi said. “We are responsible for laying the foundational building blocks that newly commissioned officers will rely on as they develop their leadership styles to manage a division of Sailors and pursue their qualifications as surface warfare officers, building surface fleet readiness.”
Bertschi says her greatest accomplishment at MSTCPAC is the command’s contribution to the success of junior surface warriors and the Navy’s overall readiness.
“I feel an immense sense of pride when prior students reach out after receiving their surface warfare pin, expressing gratitude to me and the other MSTCPAC instructors for the training they received at the schoolhouse,” Bertschi said. “Their acknowledgment reaffirms my confidence that we are sending the most prepared versions of junior officers to the fleet after they graduate from our courses.”
Bertschi credits much of her success to the values her parents instilled in her at an early age.
“My father, a Navy veteran who served in Vietnam, and my mother, a dedicated schoolteacher, provided me a unique perspective on the importance of commitment and service,” Bertschi said. “My father’s experiences in the military taught me about discipline, resilience and the importance of doing what is right. My mother’s role as a teacher emphasized the significance of nurturing others and fostering a sense of community. She continues to show me how education can empower individuals and transform lives.”
Like many of those who answered our nation’s call to service, Bertschi primarily joined the Navy to be part of a cohesive team with shared values.
“Joining the Navy represented a commitment to a life of service and sacrifice,” Bertschi said. “It offered me the chance to be a part of something larger than myself while working alongside fellow service members who share similar values of honor and devotion to duty.”
Bertschi, a daughter, spouse and mother who has served eight years in the Navy, provides her insight on naval service.
“Aside from having the coolest job in the world, the Navy offers so many opportunities for professional growth and education,” Bertschi said. “The Navy allows sailors to contribute to global stability and national security through missions spanning from direct defense operations to humanitarian efforts and disaster relief. A career in the Navy is also not just a job, it’s a profession that has a profound impact on the lives of those working with or for you while fostering personal growth and camaraderie.”
Instructors serving throughout the MyNavy HR Force Development domain competed against nearly 6,500 instructors for this prestigious distinction. The five awardees demonstrated superior sustained performance in their instructor roles, excelling as leaders and mentors at their respective commands while actively engaging with their commands and local communities.
“Our instructors here today are an exclusive and elite group – the very best of the best, each playing a critical role in ensuring that when the Navy fights, we will fight and win decisively,” said Capt. Gregory Tiner, NETC chief of staff. “In and out of the classroom, each personifies the meaning of personal excellence.”
NETC recruits, trains and delivers those who serve our nation, taking them from “street to fleet,” by transforming civilians into highly skilled, operational, and combat-ready warfighters.
For more information about NETC, visit the command’s website at https://www.netc.navy.mil/ and follow the command’s social media: Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NETCHQ, Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/netc_hq and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/netchq/.