Each year the Navy recognizes the most outstanding Command Language Program, military and civilian language professionals, and non-career linguists contributing to mission success through the use of foreign language. Award categories are:
- Command Language Program of the Year
- Shannon M. Kent Award for Language Professional Excellence
- Senior Language Professional of the Year
- Officer Language Professional of the Year
- Civilian Language Professional of the Year
- Linguist of the Year
- Senior Linguist of the Year
- Officer Linguist of the Year
- Civilian Linguist of the Year
The top Navy Command Language Program and the winner of the Shannon M. Kent Award for Language Professional Excellence go on to compete at the DoD level. Read OPNAVINST 5400.46A for more information on language awards.
FY23 Navy Foreign Language Awards Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the FY23 Navy Foreign Language Award winners, announced in NAVADMIN 136/24! FY23 winners are:
- Command Language Program of the Year: Navy Information Operations Command Pacific (NIOC PAC)
- Shannon M. Kent Award for Language Professional Excellence: CTI1(IW/SW/AW/NAC) Deborah Bowers, Information Warfare Training Command, Monterey, Detachment Goodfellow Air Force Base
- Senior Language Professional of the Year: CTIC(IW/SW) Robert Gilbert, Information Warfare Training Command, Monterey
- Officer Language Professional of the Year: LCDR Bieu Tran, Navy Reserve Center Newport
FY22 Navy Foreign Language Awards Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the FY22 Navy Foreign Language Award winners, announced in NAVADMIN 174/23! We apologize for a misprint that incorrectly identified the command affiliation of our Senior Language Professional of the Year winner, CTIC(IW/SW/AW) Jamie Biro. Chief Biro is assigned to Navy Information Operations Command Georgia. FY22 winners are:
- Command Language Program of the Year: Navy Information Operations Command Georgia (NIOC GA)
- Shannon M. Kent Award for Language Professional Excellence: CTI1(IW/EXW) Mason Lunsford, Cryptologic Warfare Activity SIXTY SEVEN
- Senior Language Professional of the Year: CTIC(IW/SW/AW) Jamie Biro, Navy Information Operations Command Georgia (NIOC GA)
- Civilian Language Professional of the Year: Mr. Sepehr Sepahrom, Brooks Center for Maritime Engagement
- Linguist of the Year: HM2 Arshad Khan, Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command, Quantico, VA
- Senior Linguist of the Year: BMC(SW/AW) Serhiy Dubenko, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
FY21 Navy Foreign Language Awards Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the FY21 Navy Foreign Language Awards, announced in NAVADMIN 148/22!
- Command Language Program of the Year: Navy Information Operations Command Georgia (NIOC GA)
- Shannon M. Kent Award for Language Professional Excellence: CTI1(IW) Theamichaela Coyle, Information Warfare Training Command, Monterey CA
- Senior Language Professional of the Year: CTIC(IW) Krystina Marshall, Cyber Strike Activity SIXTY THREE
- Officer Language Professional of the Year: CDR Arthur Fong, NR INDOPACOM J3 PHH
- Linguist of the Year: AM1(AW) Constantin Cazac, Defense Threat Reduction Agency