Sailors, Marines and civilians gathered, July 23, at the Navy Memorial Heritage Center in Washington, D.C. to attend the Secretary of the Navy's annual Environmental and Safety Excellence Awards Ceremony.

The awards recognize Navy and Marine Corps commands for their exceptional safety performance and environmental sterwardship during the previous year.

"This is the first that these awards have been presented at the same time," said Dennis McGinn, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment. "I think it's really appropriate to do that because [with safety] we preserve life and health of all our Sailors, Marines and civilians, and [with environmental stewardship] we preserve the life and health of our natural environment wherever we operate."

Each command awarded was recognized as the best among the entire Navy. A total of 26 awards were presented.

"Being awarded the Emerging Center of Safety Excellence Award from the deputy secretary of the navy is an extreme honor," said Cmdr. Stephen Petras, Carrier Strike Group 4's safety officer. "I think it shows safety as a priority of the Navy, but also highlights not just me, but my command, as it's truly dedicated to maintaining their Sailors."

Awards were presented for accomplishments in natural resources conservation, cultural resources management, environmental quality, sustainability, environmental restoration, environmental excellence in weapon system acquisition, and environmental planning.

According to SECNAV Ray Mabus, the objective of the Environmental and Safety Excellence Awards is to highlight activities that have excelled in improving warfighting and mission readiness through professional risk management in the elimination of preventable deaths, injuries, occupational illnesses, infrastructure and materiel losses, and mission degradation. The awards emphasize the unique importance of safety as a top Department of the Navy priority.

For more news from SECNAV, visit http://www.navy.mil/