Ronald Reagan Wins CNO Safety Award

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) was announced as a winner of the 2009 Chief of Naval Operations Afloat Safety Award April 5.

The award confirms Ronald Reagan's status as the top safety pick for a Pacific fleet aircraft carrier.

During the calendar year for which Ronald Reagan won the award, the ship deployed to the Gulf of Oman in support of U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan.
The ship and embarked Carrier Air Wing 14 safely flew more than 1,600 sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Ronald Reagan received the 2009 Battle E award for combat efficiency earlier this year.

"I'm extremely proud of each Ronald Reagan Sailor for their performance in 2009," said Capt. Kenneth Norton commanding officer. "We've received some accolades, but the safety award is one that I am extremely proud of. We accomplished our mission with great success, and we did it without jeopardizing our greatest asset - our crew."

The road to securing the big win for Ronald Reagan was a long one, but several smaller victories were decisive factors.

"Ronald Reagan made a significant effort to have the highest level of safety in the fleet," said Lt. Cmdr. Tim Ferrell, Ronald Reagan's industrial hygiene officer. "It was a team effort. Safety department coordinated our plan and the crew followed through.

"Administratively, we were nearly perfect in 2009. In October, inspectors from the Naval Safety Survey combed through all our departments and found zero critical hits. That was huge for us."

Up next, Ronald Reagan will be competing for the 2009 Secretary of the Navy Excellence in Safety Award.

"We have some tough competition for safest large-deck combatant, but I think we will prove to be strong contenders," said Cmdr. Andy Jouhal, Ronald Reagan's Safety officer. "Our record speaks for itself."


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