Center for Service Support Announces Domain SOY

MERIDIAN, Miss. (NNS) -- Center for Service Support announced the Domain Sailor of the Year (SOY) Nov. 13.

Logistics Specialists 1st Class (SW/AW) Victor R. Stillgess Jr., Naval Technical Training Center (NTTC) Meridian's 2012 SOY, was selected as the 2012 Center for Service Support (CSS) Domain SOY and will compete for the 2012 Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) SOY.

CSS Commanding Officer Capt. Dana Weiner said it was his pleasure to announce the results of the 2012 CSS SOY competition.

"As always, selecting an individual as the 'best of the best' is very difficult, especially when considering the quality of Sailors serving across the CSS domain," said Weiner.

Located in Newport, R.I., the mission of CSS is to develop and deliver naval administration, logistics and media services training to achieve fleet readiness. More than 300 CSS staff and faculty, stretching across the country, work to keep connectivity and are dedicated to making sure training is current and well executed on behalf of the nearly 10,000 officers and enlisted who graduate each year.

Stillgess' journey to success at CSS began in June, 1999 when enlisted in the United States Navy. Following completion of Recruit training in Great Lakes, Ill., he reported to airmen apprentice training in Pensacola, Fla. He has served in numerous commands, both afloat and ashore, to include USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Supply Department, San Diego, USNS Concord (TAFS-5) forward deployment to Guam, and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71, San Diego.

"It's a great honor to have been selected as NTTC and CSS Sailor of the Year," Stillgess said. "It is an accomplishment that I couldn't have done without all the command's support."

Stillgess is currently serving as an instructor at NTTC Meridian, as the military standards division leading petty officer. He has expertly managed the Navy military training curriculum, providing vital leadership in the professional and personal development of more than 1,250 students annually, to include yeomen, personnel specialists, ships servicemen, logistics specialists and aviation maintenance administrationmen. As LPO of military standards division he was directly responsible for managing five days of command welcome aboard and indoctrination training. As logistics specialist "A" school course supervisor, he provided both vision and leadership that was directly responsible for the training and education of more than 296 initial entry level and fleet Sailors. With a constant eye on providing quality Sailors to the fleet, he personally mentored and guided hundreds of Sailors.

In addition, his collateral duties included sexual assault prevention and response advocate, command disaster preparedness officer, Navy Marine Corps Relief Society caseworker, command financial specialist, Blue Rope Program coordinator, SHIPMATES program coordinator, and campaign manager for Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) fundraising efforts.

As a sexual assault prevention and response victim advocate, he led the command's "Hurts One, Affects All" campaign and instituted several training initiatives which resulted in zero sexual assault incidents at NTTC Meridian. He dedicated more than 300 on-call hours to assist possible victimized personnel on board Naval Air Station Meridian.

As the command's disaster preparedness officer, he organized, coordinated and effectively communicated all hurricane conditions of readiness and applicable responsibilities to staff members. His engaged and detailed guidance ensured that NTTC Meridian staff and students were sufficiently prepared for the intense expectations of a category 1 hurricane as well as the annual Commander, Navy Installations Command hurricane exercise.

Stillgess also volunteered as the command NMCRS Coordinator achieving 100 percent contact and raising more than $2,100 in contributions. As a command NMCRS caseworker, he reached his goal of 500 off-duty volunteer hours where he professionally handled emergency assistance cases and processed more than $4,100 in emergency funding to assist families in need.

Recognized throughout the command as a team player, his dedication to duty and personal involvement in command functions significantly contributed to the welfare and training of his students and the overall mission of NTTC Meridian. Stillgess will now advance to the 2012 NETC Sailor of the Year competition.

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