A Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet ombudsman was recognized as one of the top ombudsman in the entire Navy.

Deanna Jones, the ombudsman of Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Helena (SSN 725), was named one of the recipients of the 2017 Mrs. Sybil Stockdale Ombudsman of the Year Award.

"As an ombudsman, Deanna worked tirelessly to learn her new position and support the families," said Lt. Cmdr. Steven Lawrence, Helena's former executive officer. "She quickly integrated herself within the command team and took charge of remedying family challenges and potential problems, allowing us to focus on final preparations for deployment. During that deployment we had several family difficulties arise that she handled flawlessly, providing unrivaled support to Helena's families."

Commanding officers from around the fleet nominated ombudsmen for the prestigious award, but Jones' work stood out.

"Deanna has been a tremendous asset to Helena's families for over three years," said Cmdr. Jason Pittman, Helena's commanding officer. "Our deployment involved long periods where we simply could not communicate with our families. Deanna's ability to communicate with our loved ones, in our absence, was the glue that held our families together."

While the award formally recognized four outstanding volunteers for their work as ombudsmen, the award also honors the dedication and the contributions of all Navy ombudsmen.

"When I first heard I had received this award I was taken aback," said Jones. "I was just doing what I though an ombudsman should do. Yes, getting this award means a lot and is humbling, but I was just doing what any ombudsman is asked to do day in and day out. When my husband first reported to the Helena, I was impressed by the power and impact the ombudsman had in making others feel welcomed to the fold. That experience cemented my decision to take on the ombudsman position when it became available."

Perhaps the best way to measure the impact of an ombudsman is not by individual accomplishments, but rather the success of those they support, and by that measure Jones is to be lauded.

"She was able to work with our home squadron to take care of any issues and make sure our families had the absolute best care possible," said Pittman. "I can't overstate how important she is to the Helena family. Her reliable and caring approach in support of our families allowed us to focus on our jobs and to have an extraordinarily successful deployment."

Pittman said Jones' involvement and dedication to her duty as the command ombudsman resulted in lower stress levels for Sailors and families.

"During one of Helena's port calls while on deployment, she took time out of her own reunion with her husband to capture photos of our son and his wife reuniting after nine months apart," said Janssen, a Helena family member. "Deanna then sent me the pictures the same day. [The fact] that she would take the time out of her own reunion to send me those pictures says a lot about how much she cares about the families."

During Jones' tenure, Helena enjoyed a lower unplanned loss rate and uninterrupted family support during their 2017 deployment.

"Deanna's initiative and drive were an inspiration to those around her," said Pittman. "Her support enhanced Helena's ability to achieve the everyday mission and contribute to the boat's culture of family."

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