Annual Professional Excellence
Honoring the Sea Services
2025 ALNAV
See All Awards
Submission Template
Nomination Form
Navy League Annual Professional Excellence Awards
Batchelder Awards Deadline
March 31, 2026
All Other Deadlines
January 31, 2026
The Navy League’s Annual Professional Excellence Awards program honors the men and women who exemplify the highest standards of leadership, professionalism, and service across the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and U.S.-Flag Merchant Marine. Nominations are submitted by commanding officers and sea service leadership, with recipients recognized at the Navy League’s annual National Convention each June.
The John Paul Jones Award
The John Paul Jones Award is named for the Father of the U.S. Navy, the Navy’s first
indomitable sea fighter whose spirit of personal sacrifice, patriotic devotion, and courage further
added to his reputation as an inspirational leader. Presented since 1957, this award for
inspirational leadership is awarded to a Navy officer who has made an outstanding contribution
to the high standards of leadership traditional in the naval service.
The Admiral Claude V. Ricketts Awards
The Admiral Claude V. Ricketts Award is named for the great naval leader, strategist, and
statesman who gained respect for his inspirational leadership, determination and positive actions
to preserve the maritime strength of the nation. Presented since 1967, this award for inspirational
leadership is awarded to a Navy enlisted personnel who, by traditional performance of duty, has
demonstrated outstanding leadership and the professional competence required by the person’s
rank (2 awards – E-7 and above, E-6 and below).
The Admiral Claude V. Ricketts Awards
The Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune Award is named for the thirteenth Commandant of the
Marine Corps, often referred to as the greatest of all Leathernecks, who was self-educated,
fought in three wars, and was one of the most respected officers ever produced by the Corps.
Presented since 1982, this award for inspirational leadership is awarded to a Marine Corps
officer who has made an outstanding contribution to the high standards of leadership traditional
in the naval service.
The General Gerald C. Thomas Award
The General Gerald C. Thomas Award is named for the first Marine in history to rise from the
enlisted ranks to retire as a four-star general and whose spirit of personal sacrifice, patriotic
devotion, and boundless courage further added to his reputation as an inspirational leader.
Presented since 1969, this award for inspirational leadership is awarded to a Marine Corps
enlisted personnel who, by traditional performance of duty, has demonstrated outstanding
leadership and the professional competence required by the rank.
The General Holland M. Smith Award
The General Holland M. Smith Award is named for the Father of Modern U.S. Amphibious
Warfare whose bold, daring and imaginative leadership led to the establishment of an operational
competence which still provides guidance for the U.S. naval services. Presented since 1982, this
award for operational competence is awarded to a Marine Corps officer or enlisted person who
has made an outstanding personal contribution that has advanced the readiness and competence
of the naval service in the course of actual operations.
The Robert M. Thompson Award
The Robert M. Thompson Award is named for the Father of the Navy League who related the
compelling need for U.S. sea power and whose message has served as an inspirational reminder
of the importance of vigilance in maintaining the nation’s maritime strength. Presented since
1957, this award for outstanding civilian leadership is awarded to a civilian, government official,
retired Navy or Marine Cops officer or retired enlisted person who has made a personal
contribution to furthering the importance of sea power through the person’s efforts as a civilian.
(Civilian nominees for this award do not have to be Navy or Marine Corps employees.)
The Rear Admiral William S. Parsons Award
The Rear Admiral William S. Parsons Award is named for Admiral Parsons in recognition of his
dedication to all aspects of scientific and technical advances and who was responsible to a
marked degree for ensuring that the U.S. Navy remained in operational consonance with the
ever-shifting and increasing demands of the changing world. Presented since 1957, this award
for scientific and technical progress is awarded to a Navy or Marine Corps officer, enlisted
person or civilian who has made an outstanding contribution in any field of science that has
furthered the development and progress of the Navy or Marine Corps
The Stephen Decatur Award
The Stephen Decatur Award is named for the hero of the Barbary Wars whose bold and daring
resolution gave birth to an operational competence that still remains a guiding star for the U.S.
naval service. Presented since 1957, this award for operational competence is awarded to a Navy
officer or enlisted service member who has made an outstanding personal contribution in the
course of actual naval operations that has advanced the readiness and competence of the naval
service.
The Alfred Thayer Mahan Award
The Alfred Thayer Mahan Award is named for the famous naval theorist who, through his
writing, provided vital stimulus and guidance to those who share in the defense of the nation.
Presented since 1957, this award for literary achievement is awarded to a Navy officer, Marine
Corps officer, enlisted service member, or civilian who has made a notable literary contribution
that has advanced the knowledge of the importance of sea power in the United States.
The Honorable J. William Middendorf II Award
The Honorable J. William Middendorf II Award is named for the distinguished former Secretary
of the Navy who provided outstanding leadership in furthering the national defense and
naval/maritime policies of the United States government. Presented since 1984, this award for
engineering excellence is awarded to a Navy petty officer who, by traditional performance of
duty, has demonstrated outstanding leadership and professional competence required while
attached to a deployed ship of the operating fleet.
The Admiral Ben Moreell Awards
The Admiral Ben Moreell Award is named for the Admiral who is remembered for his
exceptionally meritorious service in World War II whereby, through extraordinary foresight,
judgment, initiative, and energy, he directed the expansion of the Naval Shore Establishment in
the United States and the building of advanced bases overseas. Presented since 1984, this award
for logistics competence is awarded to a Navy or Marine Corps officer and a Navy or Marine
Corps enlisted service member who has made an outstanding personal contribution that has
advanced the logistics readiness and competence of the naval service (2 awards – 1 officer, 1
enlisted).
The Douglas A. Munro Award
The Douglas A. Munro Award is named for the United States Coast Guard’s only Congressional
Medal of Honor recipient, who displayed supreme leadership when he gave his life while leading
the evacuation of a battalion of Marines trapped on a beach at Guadalcanal during World War II.
By his magnificent performance and dauntless devotion to duty, this heroic Coast Guardsman
exemplified the highest level of leadership and professional competence. Presented since 1971,
this award for inspirational leadership is awarded to a Coast Guard enlisted personnel who, by
traditional performance of duty, has demonstrated outstanding leadership and professional
competence required by the person’s rank.
The Captain David H. Jarvis Award
The Captain David H. Jarvis Award is named for the hero of the Arctic who displayed
exceptional leadership and professional ability in conducting a mission to save several hundred
stranded men from starvation. His outstanding leadership was responsible for providing the
guidance and discipline essential to their survival. Captain Jarvis was awarded a Gold Medal by
a special Act of Congress for his outstanding service. Presented since 1971, this award for
inspirational leadership is awarded to a Coast Guard officer who has made an outstanding
contribution to the high standards of leadership traditional in the Coast Guard.
The Captain Arthur L. Johnson Award
The Captain Arthur L. Johnson Award is named for the Master of SS Virginia Dare who in 1942
bravely and successfully fought off enemy submarines, dive-bombers and torpedo planes in a
blazing battle lasting for seven days and nights. Captain Johnson, the Master of a gallant ship and
a gallant crew, exhibited qualities of leadership and courage in keeping with the finest traditions
of the United States Merchant Marine. This award has been presented since 2000 to a Military
Sealift Command civil service licensed officer in the deck or engineering departments or staff
officer in the supply department who has made significant and innovative contributions to the
American maritime defense team.
The Able Seaman Oscar Chappell Award
The Able Seaman Oscar Chappell Award is named for the Able Seaman on SS Dixie Arrow who
showed heroism beyond the call of duty. In 1942, Oscar Chappell served on an oil tanker that
was struck by three torpedoes that resulted in the ship and surrounding sea being engulfed by fire
and explosions. Seaman Chappell, injured by the explosions, heroically stayed at the helm of the
ship and saved seven of his shipmates from burning to death by turning the ship into the wind
and redirecting the flames from his trapped shipmates onto himself and the wheelhouse. Placing
his own safety beyond all considerations, his last thought and act was to assure the survival of his
imperiled shipmates. His magnificent courage and selfless disregard of his own life constitute a
degree of heroism, which is an enduring inspiration to seamen of the United States Merchant
Marine. This award for outstanding maritime stewardship has been presented since 2000 to a
Military Sealift Command civil service unlicensed crewmember who displays selfless dedication
to shipmates.
The Vincent T. Hirsch Maritime Award
The Vincent T. Hirsch Maritime Award is named for a patron of the Merchant Marine and past
National President of the Navy League. This award is presented to an individual in private or
public life whose efforts and/or achievements have contributed substantially to an increased
public awareness of the vital role of a privately-owned U.S.-flag merchant fleet, both to the
United States defense establishment and to the nation’s economic well-being.
The Naval Intelligence Professionals Award
The Naval Intelligence Professionals Award for Exceptional Leadership in Intelligence Support
to the Fleet is sponsored in cooperation with Naval Intelligence Professionals in an effort to
preserve, extend, and extol the culture and heritage of Naval Intelligence, the oldest intelligence
service in the United States. Its purpose is to advance knowledge and recognize achievement in
the art and science of naval and maritime intelligence, and to develop in our citizens an
understanding and appreciation of the importance of intelligence activities. Further, this award
advances the Navy League’s mission of education and support for those serving in a professional
field which is so vital to the success of sea service operations. The award has been presented
since 2001 to that officer of the sea services in the grade of O-4, O-5, or O-6 who has
demonstrated exceptional leadership in providing excellence in operational intelligence support
to the fleet. The recipient is selected by a Board appointed by the Director of Naval Intelligence.
The Project Handclasp Award
The Project Handclasp Humanitarian Service Award is named after the United States Navy’s
Project Handclasp where members of the Sea Services have gone ashore in foreign lands to
engage in disaster relief, humanitarian service, distribute donated supplies from American
companies and charities, and engage in community relations projects. Commenced in honor of
the programs 50th anniversary, it is awarded annually to a member of the Navy, Marine Corps,
or Coast Guard of any rank, active or reserve, who has exhibited outstanding individual
achievement in achieving the Navy’s missions of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
(HA/DR).
The Vice Admiral Robert F. Batchelder Awards
The Vice Admiral Robert F. Batchelder Awards are named in memory of the former Inspector
General of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts (now the Naval Supply Systems Command).
These awards, presented since 1984 for operational competence, are awarded to Officers in the
Supply Corp levels O-1 through O-4 who have made the most significant personal contributions
to the supply readiness of the operating forces.
Announcing Our 2024 Annual Professional Excellence Awards
The Navy League of the United States is proud to announce the 2024 Professional Excellence Awards winners!