The Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) announced its domain-wide 2018 Sailor of the Year (SOY), Oct. 26.

CIWT selected Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class John Payne, a Chesapeake, Virginia native, assigned to Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station.

Payne was also selected as CIWT’s domain-wide 2018 Mid-Grade Enlisted Instructor of the Year (IOY).

As the CIWT SOY and Mid-Grade Enlisted IOY, Payne will join other Sailors within the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) enterprise as a candidate for NETC’s SOY and Mid-Grade Enlisted IOY honors.

"Throughout the domain, we saw a lot of outstanding Sailors deserving of their nomination as SOY,” said Command Master Chief Mike Bates. “The close competition for this award is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of our CIWT team. Petty Officer Payne stood out even among our best Sailors, and we are proud to have him represent our command at the NETC level.”

Payne serves as an instructor and course curriculum model manager (CCMM) for the AN/SLQ-32(V)3 and AN/SLQ-32 (V)4 Maintenance courses and as a departmental training specialist. He led 52 IWTC Corry Station staff members in the delivery of 60,486 hours of instruction through 44 course convenes. 

In his role as a CCMM, a position typically reserved for a chief petty officer, Payne led five Sailors in the revision and combination of the AN/SLQ(V)3 and AN/SLQ-32(V)4 courses, and provided guidance through 420 hours of curriculum revision. His efforts reduced the amount of time students spent awaiting instruction and increased the amount of newly qualified AN/SLQ-32(V)4 technicians going to the fleet.

In addition to his instructor duties, Payne serves as his command’s CPR training coordinator and as president of Corry Station’s First Class Petty Officer Association. He led 16 community service events, including a fundraiser that contributed nearly $5,000 in school supplies to a local elementary school. 

"I am truly honored and humbled to have been selected as the CIWT SOY and IOY,” said Payne. “There were many great Sailors and instructors that went up for this, and to be grouped with them is an honor. I was able to accomplish all I did this year thanks to the chain of command at IWTC Corry Station, my departmental leadership and, most of all, my peers and junior Sailors that I work with every day.”

CIWT delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services, enabling optimal performance of information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.

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