Center for Information Dominance Names 2012 Instructors of the Year

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Capt. Susan K. Cerovsky, the commanding officer of the Center for Information Dominance (CID), announced the CID domain Instructors of the Year (IOY) Feb. 5.

Lt. Jeffrey S. Rasmussen, from Navy Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center (NMITC) at Dam Neck, Va., was named CID IOY Officer; Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) (IDW/SW/AW) Patricia D. Acevez, from CID Learning Site (LS) San Diego, was named the CID IOY Senior Enlisted Sailor; Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class (SW) Nicole I. Duran, from CID LS San Diego, was named the CID IOY Midgrade Sailor; and Information Specialist 2nd Class (EXW) Kasey M. Helms, from NMITC, was named CID IOY Junior Enlisted Sailor.

"I'd like to offer my personal congratulations to these exceptional Sailors," Cerovsky said. "They represent the best of the best from amongst a truly impressive field of instructors throughout the CID Domain."

CID is the Navy's learning center that leads, manages and delivers Navy and joint force training in information operations, information warfare, information technology, cryptology and intelligence.

With a staff of nearly 1,300 military, civilian and contracted staff members, CID oversees the development and administration of more than 226 courses at four commands, two detachments and 14 learning sites throughout the United States and in Japan. CID provides training for approximately 24,000 members of the U.S. Armed Services and allied forces each year.

"Our CID instructors are the reason why CID continues to produce the world's finest information dominance warriors, and they have set the bar high for others to follow," Cerovsky said. "When our graduates leave here, they are fully prepared to join the fleet and to perform their mission, thanks to the hard work by these first-rate instructors."

The Instructor of the Year award program was developed by Naval Education Training Command (NETC) in the mid-1990s to publicly recognize Navy and Marine Corps instructors and facilitators who exemplify personal excellence and display outstanding instructional and leadership performance.

The program is designed to highlight the significant contributions of individuals who have been nominated by their command or learning site based on their sustained superior performance throughout the past year.

"The Navy has an ongoing need for cyberwarriors, and CID continues to respond to that demand thanks to our cadre of exceptional instructors," said CID Command Master Chief Travis Brummer.

Rasmussen, a native of Redondo Beach, Calif., is a course supervisor and division officer at NMITC and an intelligence systems instructor.

He joined the Navy in 2005 after graduating from California State University Sacramento with a bachelor's degree in international relations.

"There are so many people who have helped me in this process," Rasmussen said, "From NMITC Intelligence Specialist "A" School Dept. Head and Command Master Training Specialist Coordinator Lt. Betancourt's commitment to training, to NMITC Commanding Officer Capt. Kotheimer's inspirational leadership."

Acevez, a native of Cordes Lakes, Ariz., is the division chief petty officer and course supervisor for all of the cryptologic technician collection courses for both "C" and "F" schools at CID LS San Diego. She joined the Navy in 2001.

"It wouldn't have been possible for me to be selected for IOY without the great Sailors at CID LS San Diego and the leadership throughout the domain," Acevez said.

Duran, a native of Alamogordo, N.M., is the lead Basic Cryptologic Afloat Training instructor and a department leading petty officer at CID LS San Diego. She joined the Navy in 1999.

"I was really surprised that I was nominated, yet to make it this far is shocking," Duran said. "I owe so much to everyone here at CID LS San Diego, and I couldn't have made it this far without the help and feedback from every single one of my fellow instructors."

Helms, a native of Riverside, Calif., is an instructor in the Expeditionary Warfare Intelligence Specialist Course at NMITC.

She joined the Navy in 2006 after graduating from Chaffey College with an associate's degree in general studies.

"My fellow instructors, Mr. Jesse Hammer, IS1 Wills, and ISC Woodring all have had a great influence on me as an instructor," Helms said. "I owe all the thanks to them for their guidance and mentorship."

"I am extremely proud of my two NMITC instructors," said Capt. William C. Kotheimer, the NMITC commanding officer. "As you know CID is a huge training domain with literally hundreds of fine instructors who teach every aspect of information dominance. The competition for this recognition is unbelievably tough."

"That NMITC took two of the top honors this year is simply a tribute of the quality our people and their dedication to the mission. In our first year under the Center for Information Dominance, it's a great way to join the CID family of detachments, learning sites, and other commands. They'll be 'gunning for us' next year but that's okay - it just means the quality of training will improve across the domain - it's the students who are the true winners of that kind of competition," said Kotheimer.

Brummer said he was also proud of the important work being conducted each day by his Sailors across the CID domain.

"At CID, I believe we have the finest Sailors and instructors in the Navy. Without our hard-working and dedicated individuals, CID could not produce the high quality of cyber and intelligence warriors the fleet needs to protect our country," said Brummer.

The CID instructors will now move on to the next level of competition where they will represent CID for consideration as the NETC 2012 Instructor of the Year in their respective categories.

Lt. j.g. James Q. Whitman, CID LS San Diego learning site director wished his Sailors well at the NETC level of competition for the IOY.

"This award was well deserved," he said. "I look forward to seeing them both take it to the next level."

Acevez said she would soon be returning to sea aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), something she is excited about, but said she would miss being on the podium because instructor duty helped her evolve not only as a leader, but as a person.

"I'm really glad for the tour as an instructor, because you get a chance to let your passion show for the rate, for what you are teaching and for our Navy, and if you can get through to one person, the changes that they're going to make in the next 20 years are phenomenal," Acevez said. "I'd recommend an instructor tour to any Sailor."

Brummer added that Sailors who are interested in instructor duty should talk with their detailer about specific requirements for the challenging, yet satisfying duty. Information is also available on Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) at https://wwwa.nko.navy.mil/portal/leadership/home/instructorprograms.

For more news from Center for Information Dominance, visit www.navy.mil/local/corry/