The Navy recipients of the 2015 Mrs. Sybil Stockdale Ombudsman of the Year Award were formally recognized at a ceremony held at the San Diego Town and Country Resort, Sept. 24.

While recognizing four notably outstanding individuals, the award honors the dedication and the contributions of all ombudsmen. The awardees, who were nominated by their commanding officers for serving their command and families with extraordinary, selfless dedication and commitment to family readiness, are:

* Ms. Karina Dickinson, Ombudsman for USS NEW YORK (LPD 21), representing the U.S. Fleet Forces Command

* Mrs. Cheryl Trujillo, Ombudsman for USS HOPPER (DDG 70), representing the U.S. Pacific Fleet

* Mrs. Ronye McCarthy, Naval Station Rota Ombudsman Assembly Chair and Ombudsman for Commander, Task Force (CTF) 68, representing Navy shore activities

* Mrs. Colleen G. Weaver, Ombudsman for Navy Operational Support Center Sacramento, representing the Navy Reserve Force

The recognition event was hosted by the San Diego Armed Services YMCA, USO San Diego, the San Diego Navy League, and the Fleet & Family Support Center.

Mrs. Sybil Stockdale attended the ceremony and personally congratulated the awardees for their vital roles in establishing and maintaining current and accurate communications between their commands family members.

"What an honor to have Mrs. Stockdale in attendance at the event," said Kathy Rock, ombudsman program manager for Navy Installations Command. " Her efforts represent the strength of volunteers and the impact one person can have on the lives of Navy families. She is an inspiration to all of us and especially those serving the Navy as command ombudsmen," Rock added.

Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) Vice Adm. Michael Shoemaker, represented the Chief of Naval Operations in honoring Mrs. Sybil Stockdale and the awardees.

Named in honor of Mrs. Sybil Stockdale, the award recognizes her steadfast support to families of prisoners of war (POW) throughout her husband's - Vice Adm. James Bond Stockdale - seven-year internment in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. She became a co-founder and national coordinator of the National League of Families, a nonprofit organization that worked on behalf of American Vietnam-era Missing in Action and POW Families, serving as their liaison to the White House and the Department of Defense.

The Navy Family Ombudsman Program was created in 1970 by then-CNO Admiral E.R. Zumwalt, Jr., to improve communication between commands and the families of Sailors who served in them.

For more information about the Ombudsman program and Navy Installations Command visit www.cnic.navy.mil
For news from Navy Installations Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cni/
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