Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) announced the top Sailors, instructors, and Marine for 2015 during a ceremony on board Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Dec. 4.

Capt. Hugh Rankin, NATTC commanding officer, congratulated the awardees and noted that the competition was keen.

"There are so many quality Sailors at this command that it is very, very tough to choose the winners," Rankin said. "You should be proud of your selection. Congratulations and well done."

Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class (AW) James Jones was announced as the Junior Sailor of the Year (JSOY). Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class (AW/SW) Alexanna Williams was announced as the Senior Sailor of the Year (SSOY). The Junior Instructor of the Year (JIOY) was Aviation Structural Mechanic (Safety Equipment) 2nd Class (AW) Jason Shillingford, while the Mid-Grade Instructor of the Year (MGIOY) was Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) 1st Class (AW/SW) Jonathan Davenport. Selected for Senior Instructor of the Year (SIOY) was Chief Aviation Electronics Technician (AW/SW) James Buchanan. This year's Marine of the Year was Sergeant David Risso.

Rankin also addressed service members' families and friends at the ceremony, citing their dedication as crucial to service members' continued success.

"This is not an easy job, and your backing is so important to enable them to accomplish what they have," he said. "The encouragement and dedication you provide translates into improved performance while at work."

Williams, a Pensacola native, said being selected as the NATTC SSOY is representative of the command as a whole, an honor she shares with the entire command.

"At a command such as this, competition is always intense," she said. "There are so many great leaders and staff at this command, and to be the one representing that group is such a rewarding feeling. My leaders, peers, and students got me this far, and I am thankful to them."

As a student barracks leading petty officer, Williams provided training and mentoring to 11 staff members and 1,467 students, and oversaw the upkeep of a 12 million dollar housing facility. Additionally, her hard work and dedication as the lead advocate for the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) resulted in NATTC's chapter being selected as the Shore Training CSADD Chapter of the Year.

For more than 70 years, the Naval Air Technical Training Center has been providing training and increasing readiness within the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE). The facility graduates approximately 15,000 Navy, Marine Corps and international students annually, and is part of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT), 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 the Naval Education and Training Command.

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