Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) named a Sailor from Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) North Island the Junior Instructor of the Year for 2016.

Aviation Support Equipment Technician 2nd Class Angela Derks, a CNATTU North Island Integrated Systems Development Course supervisor, was selected as the CNATT domain's top junior instructor from a field of more than 20 Sailors.

"I thought the overall experience was motivational," she said. "I was humbled to be nominated and chosen amongst my outstanding peers."

Derks is responsible for ensuring course materials are accurate and information being taught to students remains timely and relevant to fleet requirements. Along with reviewing Aviation Support Equipment courses, she also teaches seven technical courses and manages the support equipment training aids for the intermediate-level maintenance courses.

"We are proud of her significant accomplishments and lucky to have AS2 Derks as part of our CNATTU North Island team," said CNATTU North Island Commanding Officer Cmdr. Michelle Debourge. "She is the perfect example of a petty officer that serves with distinction, refined leadership, and exceptional initiative."

Derks, along with other Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) domain service members, was invited to the NETC Instructor of the Year recognition and finalist panels onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, Dec. 12-15. Derks was ultimately selected as the NETC domain Junior Instructor of the Year runner-up.

"The trip to Pensacola was very inspirational," she said. "I enjoyed getting to know the other finalists and hearing about the courses they instruct."

CNATTU North Island is a training unit of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training located at NAS Pensacola. CNATT develops, delivers, and supports aviation technical training at 27 sites located throughout the continental United States and Japan.

CNATT is a technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise, an organization designed to advance and sustain naval aviation warfighting capabilities at an affordable cost, and is the largest training center under Naval Education and Training Command.

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