The Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) for Fleet Readiness and Logistics (N4), Vice Adm. Phil Cullom, announced the 30 winners of the fiscal year 2016 CNO Environmental Awards competition through a naval message released March 15.

Navy Region Northwest (NRNW) had four installations which won an award for their environmental prowess: Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Natural Resources Conservation, Large Installation; Naval Base Kitsap, Environmental Quality, Industrial Installation; Naval Hospital Bremerton, Sustainability, Non-Industrial Installation; Transit Protection System Port Angeles Environmental Assessment Project Team, Environmental Planning.

This is an improvement over the 2015 competition, which garnered NRNW only one award.

"Your dedication and commitment to protecting the environment while continuing to maintain mission readiness is a model for all to follow," said Rear Adm. Gary Mayes, commander of NRNW. "Every member of your teams can be justifiably proud of this achievement."

The annual CNO Environmental Awards competition recognizes Navy installations, ships, people and teams for their efforts in protecting and sustaining the environment. Categories recognized in the awards were: Cultural Resources Management, Environmental Excellence in Weapon System Acquisition, Environmental Planning, Environmental Quality, Environmental Restoration, Natural Resources Conservation, and Sustainability.

"Earning these awards shows our ability to simultaneously protect the environment at a high level, while fulfilling the Navy's mission," said Capt. Alan Schrader, Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) commanding officer. "A big reason NBK competed in the 'Environmental Quality' category is because of the effort Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) puts in to ensure environmental compliance while completing some of the most complex ship maintenance in the world.

"Additionally, the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest team did an outstanding job planning the Transit Protection System pier in Port Angeles, including the National Environmental Policy Act coordination across many critical organizations," he added. "NBK, PSNS, and NAVFAC Northwest work very hard to ensure our environmental programs support the community we live and work in every day."

Capt. Geoff Moore, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island commanding officer, stressed the importance of this accomplishment.

"Naval Air Station Whidbey Island has worked closely with our resource management partners and stakeholders through our Integrated Natural Resources Management Planning process to develop and implement natural resource conservation measures that allows us to effectively manage those resources while meeting our mission-critical military training operation needs," said Moore. "The Navy understands the need to conserve and protect these resources as part of maintaining a sustainable and realistic military training environment."

The fiscal year 2016 competition had 56 nominations from commands around the world. Non-government organizations and Navy subject matter experts reviewed the nominations and selected the winners. The purpose of the awards is to recognize the people and installations that have made a conscious effort to consider their impact on the environment.

Cullom commended the winners in the naval message he sent.

"Congratulations to all our accomplished winners for their impressive achievements in protecting environmental assets while maintaining mission readiness," he said. "The Navy commends you for your innovative and tireless efforts to demonstrate environmental stewardship and ensure national security. Bravo Zulu!"

The 30 winners, along with Marine Corps winners, will move on to the Secretary of the Navy Environmental Awards, which are scheduled for later this year.

For more information on the CNO Environmental Awards program, visit http://greenfleet.dodlive.mil/environment/awards/.

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