MCAF C4 Awards Dinner

On 29 April 2010, The Marine Corps Association Foundation, in conjunction with HQMC’s C4 Division, held the 7th Annual C4 Awards Dinner at the Crystal City Hyatt hotel in Arlington, VA. 

The occasion served as the opportunity to recognize the professional achievements of the Corps’ top performers in the C4 community during 2010.  During the awards portion of the dinner the following awards were presented:

The General Alfred M. Gray Trophy for Outstanding Communications Leadership
The James Hamilton Information Technology Management Civilian Marine of the Year
The PFC Herbert A. Littleton Staff Noncommissioned Officer Trophy for Operational Communications Excellence
The PFC Herbert A. Littleton Noncommissioned Officer Trophy for Operational Communications Excellence
The PFC Herbert A. Littleton Staff Noncommissioned Officer Trophy for Electronics Maintenance Excellence
The Lieutenant Colonel Kevin M. Shea Memorial Unit Award

Well attended, the dinner included almost 500 dinner guests who were on hand to hear General James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps, speak and to also witness the awards presentations.

General Conway began his presentation by congratulating all the award recipients and their families and then gave a brief overview on current operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and then gave some perspectives on what he considered were the challenges for the future.  In particular he focused on the need to reset and reconstitute the Corps in order to achieve the “right size” force for the challenges of the future in an era of significant budgetary constraints. He concluded with praise for the tremendous generation of Marines currently serving and said that some of that talent was on display that night.  He ended his presentation with the assertion that he was supremely confident and the Marines were “Good to Go! 

Below are the videos of the Event:

Speech Part 1

Speech Part 2

Speech Part 3

Here are some Photos of the Event:

MajGen Les Palm, President and CEO of MCAF welcoming dinner guests

Marching on the colors!

General James T. Conway, Commandant of the Marine Corps speaking

2009 C4 Awards

(L-R – Hamilton, Shea, Gray and Littleton Trophies)

Awards Close Ups

Presentation of the Gray Award to Captain Robert W. Featherstone

The Gray award is presented annually to a Marine Captain on active duty in a military occupational specialty (MOS) 0602 billet within the operating forces or supporting establishment who best exemplifies outstanding leadership within the communications environment.  The Marine Corps University Foundation sponsors the Gray Award through funding provided by SPRINT.

MajGen George Allen, Director, C4 with Capt Featherstone and wife

     
General Al Gray, 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps and Award namesake with Capt Featherstone and wife.

Award recipient on stage with award namesake Gen Gray, representative from award sponsor SPRINT, Gen Conway and MajGen Allen

Presentation of the Hamilton Award to Mr. Patrick McLaughlin

The Hamilton Award is presented in honor of Mr. James Hamilton a 50 year veteran of service to the Marine C4 community and is presented to the Civilian Marine who most exemplifies leadership and technological innovation within the information Technology Management field.  MCA sponsors the Hamilton Award through support provided by AT&T.

Mr. Patrick McLaughlin receiving award with representatives from awards sponsor, AT&T along with Gen Conway and MajGen Allen

Mr McLaughlin and wife with MajGen Allen at VIP Reception

Presentation of the Littleton Awards

The three Littleton Awards are named for Medal of Honor recipient, PFC Herbert A. Littleton and recognize operational communications excellence in a SNCO and an NCO and excellence in electronic communications maintenance by an NCO. MCA sponsors the Littleton Awards through support provided by ITT.

Presentation of The PFC Herbert A. Littleton Staff Noncommissioned Officer Trophy for Operational Communications Excellence to GySgt Erik E. Housman

GySgt Houseman receiving Littleton Award on stage with Gen Conway, MajGen Allen, SgtMaj of the Marine Corps, SgtMaj Carlton Kent and the Communications Chief of the Marine Corps, MGySgt Byron Bissessar

GySgt Houseman and MajGen Allen

Presentation of The PFC Herbert A. Littleton Noncommissioned Officer Trophy for Operational Communications Excellence to Cpl Thomas P. Emanoff

Cpl Emanoff receiving award with Gen Conway, MajGen Allen, SgtMaj Kent and MGySgt Bissessar on stage

Cpl Emanoff and family with MajGen Allen

Presentation of The PFC Herbert A. Littleton Staff Noncommissioned Officer Trophy for Electronics Maintenance Excellence to Cpl Michael P. Comerford

Cpl Comerford receiving award with Gen Conway, MajGen Allen, SgtMaj Kent and MGySgt Bissessar on stage

Cpl Comerford with family along with MajGen Allen and MGySgt Bissessar.

Presentation of The Lieutenant Colonel Kevin M. Shea Memorial Unit Award

This award is presented annually in honor of LtCol Kevin M. Shea, USMC to recognize the Marine Corps communications or information technology unit within the operating forces that has distinguished itself by making the most outstanding contributions to the Marine C4 community.   MCA sponsors the award through the support of BAE Systems.

The 2009 recipient of the Shea Memorial Unit Award is 8th Communications Battalion

LtCol Desmond Reid, Commanding Officer of 8th Communications Battalion with the Shea family the award’s namesake along with Gen Conway and MajGen Allen and BAE Systems representative.

LtCol Desmond Reid, Commanding Officer of 8th Communications Battalion along with the Battalion SgtMaj and MajGen Allen