Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Asterik Knotts, from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP), was selected as the Navy Medicine East (NME) 2015 Sailor of the Year(SOY). The announcement was made by Rear Adm. Terry Moulton, NME commander, during a ceremony Nov. 19, at NMCP.

Twenty first class petty officers, one from each of the military treatment facilities and commands that comprise NME, competed for the honor. The competition included corpsmen, as well as members of rates that provide support in a medical setting. This is the second consecutive year that the NMCP candidate was selected for NME SOY.

"It was truly a blessing to hear my name called, especially with the caliber of the candidates present," Knotts said. "There were a lot of really qualified people who made up that group, and it made me feel really great, but very humbled."

The ceremony began with remarks from Command Master Chief Christopher Hill, Navy Medicine East's command master chief (CMC) and host of the competition.

"There was some very stiff competition this year, because all of the petty officers consistently perform at such high levels," Hill said. "The regional CMCs had to put in some very long hours to make sure we picked the best candidate, and I am confident that we did."

Knotts grew up in New London, N.C., and currently serves as the leading petty officer of NMCP's Emergency Medicine Department. Her position makes her responsible for leading 65 enlisted Sailors who are divided into four teams and work various shifts around the clock in the department. She is responsible for handling the daily schedules of each Sailor, as well as handling all administrative duties required or requested.

"What I do is very rewarding to me, and I feel that way every day when I come to work and see my Sailors being motivated to work hard and excel in their professional and personal lives," Knotts said. "I love getting to inspire my Sailors and showing them just how great the Navy can be for them."

She joined the Navy in 2004 after speaking with a recruiter and being told about career and pay opportunities she would have. Since then, she has served in various roles at commands across the globe, including USS Abraham Lincoln; Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort, S.C.; and 3rd Marine Logistics Group, Okinawa, Japan.

"All of my commands have had things that make them great and have let me have some pretty awesome experiences," Knotts said. "I am very thankful for all those great experiences and my current chain of command that led me to this point."

During the process leading up to the board and selection, Knotts spent a lot of time studying naval history and refreshing her knowledge in various topics that included Navy and Department of Defense regulations. She also was given the opportunity to prepare during multiple mock oral boards, and thanked those who helped her prepare.

"It has been an incredible process to prepare for this, and I am extremely thankful for my chain of command for all their help and support," Knotts said. "They offered me very honest and insightful feedback on what I did well and the areas in which I could improve. I was very nervous walking into that board with 20 command master chiefs and the equally deserving competition. All my hard work paid off."

The first class petty officer finalists brought with them many distinguishing accomplishments, including civic and community activities and fitness standards. During the boards, they were tested on their professional military knowledge, leadership, military bearing, Navy core values and current events. Knotts thought highly of her fellow candidates throughout the process and the time spent with them.

"We were all like family from the second we met, and we all got to experience this in an environment where everyone was very supportive," Knotts said. "This has been a very humbling experience, and I am looking forward to getting the opportunity to go represent my Navy Medicine East family and hopefully bring it back home."

Knotts will next compete for selection as Navy Medicine Sailor of the Year against other regional SOYs within Navy Medicine. If selected, she will advance to the Navy's Shore Sailor of the Year competition. In the meantime, her senior enlisted leaders will coordinate mock oral boards and various activities to assist in preparing her for the next level.

For more news from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/NMCP/.