A Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) Instructor was named the 2016 John W. Finn Aviation Ordnanceman of the Year Aug. 15.

Chief (select) Aviation Ordnanceman Amanda J. Roth, NATTC's Aviation Ordnanceman "A" School leading petty officer, was recognized by the Association of Aviation Ordnancemen as the top "AO" in the Navy, something she said is both an honor and privilege.

"Aviation ordnancemen share a great history and heritage, and to be named one of the best of these shipmates is an extraordinary honor," she said, "but all the Sailors with whom I've worked and led, all the chiefs who've mentored and trained me, are the reason I am where I am."

The award, named for former Navy ordnanceman and Medal of Honor recipient John W. Finn, is generally awarded to a petty officer first class or second class. Eligibility for the award involves a departmental and subsequent command nomination, including a review of the service member's records and impact they have had on the AO rating.

Roth, according to NATTC AO "A" School Course Supervisor Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Hector Mendez, epitomizes what an aviation ordnanceman should embody, and has proven instrumental in ensuring the next generation of AOs are more than prepared for duty in the Navy and Marine Corps.

"Chief (select) Roth has been the driving force in ensuring the students passing through our doors are ready for the jobs they will do in the fleet," he said. "She's a deckplate leader, and she makes sure these students are instilled with AO pride and professionalism while reinforcing the Navy Core Values."

While initially an instructor, Roth later transitioned to an administrative role, coordinating more than 30 Navy and Marine Corps instructors in training and mentoring nearly 3,000 students. Roth also became instrumental in the planning, development, realignment and implementation of the AO "A" School curriculum revision, eliminating unnecessary and redundant coursework and reducing required training by more than a week.

Roth also serves as a master training specialist mentor, the NATTC Navy Junior ROTC (NJROTC) assistant coordinator and as a NATTC Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) victim advocate.

Roth also is involved in the Pensacola, Florida, community, particularly with Blue Angels Elementary School where she is a member of the School Advisory Committee. She also serves as the Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) staff administrator and is a member of the Association of Aviation Ordnancemen, Chapter 34.

NATTC Commanding Officer Capt. Hugh Rankin said Roth's unparalleled leadership and mentoring is helping to shape the AO rating.

"Her imprint of leadership and mentorship is imparted on every junior ordnanceman assigned to every ship, squadron and weapon station in the Navy," he said. "She's the first aviation ordnanceman leading petty officer these students come in contact with, and I can't think of anyone who could better set the bar by which all AOs are measured."

For more than 70 years, with the last two decades at Naval Air Station Pensacola, NATTC has been providing training and increasing readiness within the Naval Aviation Enterprise. The facility graduates approximately 23,000 Navy, Marine Corps and international students annually and is part of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT), an organization which provides single site management for Navy and Marine Corps aviation technical training.

CNATT is the technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE), 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.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, visit http://www.navy.mil/.