Outstanding Junior Officers from Kitsap Area Honored by MOAA

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- Four Junior officers from the Kitsap area were honored and recognized by the Kitsap Chapter of Military Officers Association of America on May 17.

In conjunction with the annual Armed Forces Festival, Lt. Jenique Keys, Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) Labor and Delivery nurse, Lt. Cmdr. Wayne Lewis assistant operations officer on the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Lt. Jeremiah Smith, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS/IMF) electrical repair division officer, and Lt. John Mackinnon, assistant operations officer with and U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit (MFPU) Bangor, received the Military Officer Association Annual Award for outstanding professionalism and service.

"I'm really humbled to see the quality of our junior officers recognized here. To have that kind of talent, experience and professionalism speaks well. If this were our Sailors, we would do the same thing. Just very impressive," shared keynote speaker Rear Adm. Markham Rich, commander, Navy Region Northwest.

Keys was noted for her exemplary professional performance in providing direct patient-centric care. Her citation recalled her ability to promote maternal-infant nursing at every opportunity while providing superior ante, peri, and post-partum care on the highest volume inpatient unit with an average of 66 deliveries and 150 outpatient visits per month.

Keys has also provided over 144 hours of child birth and lactation education to over 120 couples, expanding their knowledge and improving their birthing experience and confidence in newborn care.

"Lt. Keys was the acting department head when I was deployed down range in Afghanistan, and I knew I would come back to a well-put-together department. This recognition is well-deserved. We expect nothing but the best for her in her future," said Lt. Cmdr. Terri Jandron, NHB Northwest beginning family birth center maternal-child infant nursing head, adding that Keys also impacted the patient experience of care by ensuring their access, satisfaction and quality along with cost savings, population health and readiness is top notch.

Additionally, Keys professional development has been enhanced by obtaining her Registered Nurse Certification in Inpatient Obstetrics in July of 2012 while she was interim department head of Northwest Beginnings and during that time, was honored by being selected as Family Practice Nurse of the Year for 2012.

Lewis, primary assistant to the USS Jon C. Stennis operations officer, was lauded for his expertise as an operational planner highlighted by his detailed understanding of carrier operations through two combat deployments that covered approximately 230,000 nautical miles.

"For 17 of 22 months, Stennis was underway, at large in the Seventh Fleet or Fifth Fleet Area of Operations," stated Capt. Ronald Reis, USS John C. Stennis commanding officer.

Lewis was instrumental in helping to meet all the operational and training requirements for the ship and embarked air wing. As the command special access program security officer, Lewis also managed all special access programs and implemented security protection for all assets and materials. He also was specifically recognized as the "Ship Handler of the Year" for demonstrating superb leadership and ship handing skills as senior officer of the deck, and was chosen as the general quarters officer of the deck.

"The Stennis is the preeminent arbitrator of world peace and stability. Wayne epitomizes what we have. There is passion that comes with brilliance, and Wayne captures that," commented Reis.

After brief opening remarks by IMF Commanding Officer, Captain Charles E. A. Baker, IMF Executive Officer Cmdr. Paul Plattsmier, commented on their honoree.

"I've known Jeremiah for quite some time. He is smart and has the aptitude to thrive in such a challenging environment. He also has more than just aptitude to be a leader. He has the passion, energy and commitment that's needed to excel," said Plattsmier.

Smith is highly regarded within the submarine community for his expert technical and managerial ability setting the standard for excellence. His sustained superior performance ensures the Trident Submarine Fleet is meticulously maintained and ready for all operational commitments.

Smith is also considered a leader for the complex military and civilian workforce of over 300 people with his professionalism and exacting standards in job performance resulting in on-time delivery of TRIDENT submarines following extensive repair periods.

Smith has also augmented his professional duties with personal achievement by graduating last week with honors from Washington State University. He earned his Masters in Business while conducting numerous volunteer duties within the county in his off-duty time.

Mackinnon has demonstrated outstanding leadership and initiative while assigned as the operations division chief at Maritime Force Protection Unit, Bangor. Within his duties, he coordinated over 100 Transit Protection System missions, each involving up to nine Coast Guard vessels and 45 crew members in support of an 80 nautical mile maritime security transit. These security escort missions support the U.S. Navy's Ballistic Missile Submarine fleet, providing force protection to national strategic deterrent assets. He also displayed superior competence serving as the acting operations officer for over 90 days following the departure of his senior department head.

Mackinnon was noted as an exceptional supporter of command goals, such as initiating a unified process to simplify and concisely capture mission planning. He is considered a sound decision maker, having personally commanded over 15 transit protection system escort events totaling 350 combined underway hours. During one event, he detected a fast-moving fishing vessel closing in on the SSBN at periscope depth, rapidly coordinated with Navy authorities, he directed a Coast Guard law enforcement response that stopped the vessel and averted a potentially dangerous incident.

"Mackinnon embodies the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard, and its core values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty. He is truly deserving of this recognition by the Military Officers Association of America," read his citation.

Cmdr. Thomas Sullivan, MFPU commanding officer, stated that Mackinnon was the embodiment of the Coast Guard ideal of safety, balance, readiness and operation excellence.

"Safety first is what he ensures. John also has balance with his unit and in the community, and between work and life. What we do to support the SSBNs (ballistic missile submarines) is incognito, and is ultimately due to his operational readiness and excellence," Sullivan said.



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