Three Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) received Lincoln Leadership Awards for their outstanding performance, during a special birthday celebration honoring the ship's namesake, Feb. 12.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Joshua Letson, assigned to Lincoln's Combat Systems Department, was presented the Statesman Award as an officer who has exemplified the highest ideals of leadership. Chief Machinist's Mate Anthony Vega, Reactor Department's Machinery Division leading chief petty officer, received the Union Award for senior enlisted leadership, and Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class Brian Riley, Engineering Department's Fire Watch Division acting leading chief petty officer, received the Liberty Award for enlisted leadership.

"This is pretty amazing; a very humbling experience," Letson said. "It's nice to know that hard work is recognized by not only your junior Sailors, but by those you work parallel with."

In order to promote the development of leadership qualities and to formally recognize exceptional performance, the Stennis Center for Public Service instituted the Lincoln Leadership Awards Program in 2011. The awards are presented annually to an officer, chief petty officer and petty officer who have who have exemplified superior and sustained leadership qualities.

"I am proud to honor the service and hard work of these Lincoln Sailors who have demonstrated exceptional vision, integrity, courage and willingness to serve; personal traits they share with our namesake, Abraham Lincoln," said Capt. Ron Ravelo, the ship's commanding officer. "They honor our ship and the great legacy of the 16th President of the United States."

Award recipients are nominated by fellow crew members and selected for the award by a group of their peers, making the honor even more special.

"What you do [and] how you act and carry yourself has a domino effect throughout the command, whether it's good or bad," said Vega. "I can only hope that I was as positive an example as the leaders that have mentored me."

As part of the Stennis Center's continuing effort to strengthen understanding and relationships between civilian leaders and the military, the award winners will travel to Washington, D.C., later this year. The primary purpose of the trip is to provide the awardees with a better understanding of the role of Congress in setting national security policy and to make them more aware of the environment in which John C. Stennis made such a lasting impact on our nation through his leadership.

"A leader can only be as strong as the person he or she is leading. When it comes down to it, I've worked with some good Sailors, and they are the reason for my success," Riley said. "Their success is mine, and my success is theirs."

Lincoln is currently undergoing Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News. It is the fifth Nimitz-class ship to undergo RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone. Once complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet, and will continue to be a vital part of the nation's defense.

For more news from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), visit http://www.navy.mil/.