The 2015 Naval District Washington (NDW) Senior and Junior Sailors of the Year (SOY) were announced by NDW Commandant Rear Adm. Yancy Lindsey via an All Hands message.

The NDW 2015 Sailor of the Year is Master at Arms 1st Class Malart Cunningham assigned to U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard.

Cunningham who's been with the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard for two years was excited that he did so well in the NDW Sailor of the Year competition.

"It is such an awesome platform for me to inspire my peers and junior Sailors, said Cunningham."

"Sometimes I can't believe that this is happening because everything I do is not for the award or any titles, I do what I do the way I do it because of my personal convictions to do everything in excellence. I am just blessed to enjoy this moment in time."

The NDW 2015 Junior Sailor of the Year is Petty Officer Second Class Amanda L. Glover, a culinary specialist assigned to Naval Support Activity South Potomac.

"I'm proud that I was able to represent my command and be selected but I am also proud of my Sailors," said Glover. "While I am fortunate enough to be selected, and it is truly an honor to represent NDW as the Junior Sailor of the Year; I realize that it is my Sailors' accomplishments throughout the past year that made all this possible. So this selection does not only reflect my accomplishments but it reflects the hard work and dedication of the Sailors that I have the privilege of leading daily."

The 2015 NDW Bluejacket of the Year is Airman Taquonna T. Little assigned to Naval Air Station Patuxent River.

Little, a maintenance technician for E-28 emergency arresting gear and Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System (FLOL) optical landing aids, said that she couldn't have done it without the support of her co-workers.

"The people I work with are good people. [My supervisors] are 100 percent supportive in everything we do," said Little. "I said I wanted to be Bluejacket of the Year and with their support I got there."
NDW Command Master Chief Dee Allen was impressed not only with the winners, but with all of the candidates.

"I was extremely impressed with all the Sailor of the Year nominees this year," said Allen. "It was a very tough competition and all nominees should be extremely proud of their success. They all represented their commands well."

The selectees were handpicked out of a group from every category hailing from every installation around the region.

The NDW Sailors of the Year will compete in the shore category against Sailors Navy-wide at the Commander Navy Installations Command selection board.

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