Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) announced Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class Michael Love as Sailor of the Year (SOY) Nov. 7.

As an instructor at CSCS Unit Great Lakes, Love was selected from deserving Sailors from 14 learning sites and detachments.

"I didn't expect it to win Sailor of the Year," Love said. "When I found out I was selected, I felt honored. It shows that hard work and dedication does pay off."

As leading petty officer, Love led the daily operations of 76 active duty and civilian instructors in the training of 700 students daily across eight rates in the Navy's largest technical training schoolhouse, graduating 4,200 students over the past year.

"Petty Officer Fist Class Love provides quality training and maintains the highest standards of excellence for his students," explained Capt. Frank X. Castellano, CSCS commanding officer. "His students leave the classroom with the critical knowledge and skills they require to execute the Navy's mission and improve our Fleet. Petty Officer First Class Love is a model Sailor both inside the classroom and outside in the community."

Also a command sponsor coordinator, directorate career counselor and assistant command fitness leader, Cmdr. James Dancer describes Love as a natural leader and motivator who consistently displays exemplary performance in all tasks and endeavors.

"Petty Officer Love's performance over the last year has truly been impressive," Dancer said. "His contributions to the command as a leader, mentor, and community volunteer have been significant and are also indicative of the high caliber of Sailors that we are fortunate to have serving here at CSCSU GL. His selections as the CSCS Unit Great Lakes and CSCS domain Sailor of the Year are a reflection of his professional and personal commitment to excellence and execution of the command mission."

Love considers it his duty and personal responsibility to send to the Fleet the best trained Sailor possible.

"Anytime we have the opportunity to provide training, guidance and mentorship to our junior Sailors, we should do so," Love said. "This should be done both in and outside of the classroom, developing our Sailors is a continuous effort. It's been a pleasure to be teaching in Great Lakes, we are the Quarterdeck of the Navy, and this is where we set the standard for the Fleet."

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