NHC Corpus Christi Sailor to Represent Region at Navy Medicine Competition

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (NNS) -- Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi's (NHCCC) Sailor of the Year excelled at the next level of competion in Portsmouth, Va., Nov. 16.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMC/SCW) Trevor M. Wolfe won the Navy Medicine East (NME) regional competition after competing with 13 other outstanding Sailors in the NME enterprise, but he was not expecting to win.

"I was in complete shock when the admiral announced my name," said Wolfe in a telephone interview, "so many things rushed through my head, all of my peers were exceptional in every way - I didn't think I would be the one.

Rear Adm. Elaine C. Wagner, commander of NME, commander of Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and chief of Navy Dental Corps made the announcement during a formation at historic Bldg. 1, the nation's first Navy hospital, established in 1830.

"When she began to read the name, 'Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (Fleet Marine Force)...' the thought raced through my mind that all of us were FMFs and it could be any one of us. But when she started to say, 'Seabee Combat...' then I knew beyond a doubt that it was me because I was the only nominee with that warfare designation," said Wolfe, who hails from Gulfport, Mississippi and is acting leading petty officer of Dental, Optometry and Audiology clinics at NHCCC.

Wolfe's victory marks the second consecutive year that an outstanding NHCCC Sailor's achievements have been rewarded at the regional level. Last year Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF/SS) Damien Brown won the NME SOY honors.

During the ceremony honoring this year's winner, NHCCC Command Senior Chief Mike Richardson was standing by and shared Wolfe's excitement.

"I was ecstatic, it was a great competition with so many spectacular and well-qualified Sailors but our Sailor was just a tad bit more spectacular," said Richardson. "His hard work has really paid off, and we're very proud of him."

According to Wolfe, his family could not have been more thrilled over the news.

"My wife was nearly in tears, she was so excited and happy," said the 13-year Navy veteran, adding that he called her first. "I didn't get to speak with the kids but they will all be at the airport this evening when I return to Corpus. I also called my dad in Michigan and he congratulated me, told me that he was very proud of me, and said that he loves me."

Wolfe's next SOY challenge awaits him at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) competition. There he will compete with other Navy Medicine regional winners, probably sometime in December.

"I'm confident that he will maintain a level head during the board process," said Richardson, "he's a cool customer. And when he is asked for his opinion he will defend it with conviction, because that's what leaders do."

Wolfe's home command, NHCCC, is part of the Navy Medicine team - a global healthcare network of 63,000 Navy medical personnel around the world who provide high quality health care to more than one million eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support aboard ship, in the air, under the sea and on the battlefield.

For more news from Naval Health Clinic Corpus Christi, visit www.navy.mil/local/nhcc/.