Freedom of Navigation Awards
MASTERHELM ONBOARD USS HALSEY FROM JANUARY 2025 TO AUGUST 2025. PETTY OFFICER HAYDEN EXPERTLY NAVIGATED 57 RESTRICTED WATERS TRANSITS, EIGHT STRAIT TRANSITS, AND ONE FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION OPERATION IN THE C7F AOR WITH ZERO MISHAPS. HER LEADERSHIP AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE LED TO THE QUALIFICATION OF 10 HELM SAFETY OFFICERS AND ONE ADDITIONAL MASTERHELM. SHE WAS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A TEMPORARY STANDING ORDER FOR STEERING TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF NAVIGATION.
FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT AS CHIEF OF ANALYSIS AND INTELLIGENCE WARFARE OFFICER AT COMMANDER, U.S. PACFIFIC FLEET FROM AUGUST 2020 TO SEPTEMBER 2023. DURING THIS PERIOD, LT O'HAVER GUIDED JOINT WARFIGHTING TACTICS AND OPERATIONALIZED THE PACIFIC FLEET MARITIME TARGETING CELL. HE FORGED EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS, INTERAGENCY AND ACROSS THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, AND DELIVERED GAME-CHANGING CAPABILITIES TO THE FLEET TO ADDRESS THE PACIFIC FLEET'S TOP THREE PRIORITIES. HIS VISION OF INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF SPACE SUPPORT TO THE WARFIGHTER SERVED AS THE EXEMPLAR FOR SENSOR TO SHOOTER INITIATIVES ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND DROVE INFORMATION WARFARE PROGRAM OBJECTIVE MEMORANDUM 2024. ADDITIONALLY, HE LED THE 120-PERSON PACIFIC FLEET INTELLIGENCE FEDERATION IN THE PROVISION OF INDICATIONS AND WARNINGS TO DEPLOYED FORCES DURING 20 TAIWAN STRAIT OPERATIONS, TWO SOUTH CHINA SEA DUAL-AIRCRAFT CARRIER OPERATIONS, AND 31 FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION OPERATIONS. BY HIS NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PERSEVERENCE, AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY, LIEUTENANT O’HAVER REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE AS COMMANDING OFFICER OF USCGC MONOMOY (WPB 1326) IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION SPARTAN SHIELD FROM JUNE 2021 TO JUNE 2022. DURING THIS PERIOD, LIEUTENANT BLAND LED U.S. COAST GUARD CUTTER MONOMOY THROUGH 21 MARITIME SECURITY PATROLS, ADVANCING U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO PROMOTE PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE REGION. HE CONDUCTED JOINT OPERATIONS WITH THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY MINE COUNTERMEASURE UNITS, CONDUCTING FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION OPERATIONS, ENGAGING WITH THE KUWAIT NAVAL FORCE, AND RESPONDING TO AND DE-ESCALATING AN INTERACTION WITH THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS NAVY, SUCCESSFULLY PROTECTING THE ROYAL NAVY UNITS AND ENSURING THEIR SAFE TRANSIT. ADDITIONALLY, ON SIGHTING A RUSSIAN NAVAL AUXILIARY VESSEL, HE ADJUSTED RAPIDLY TO THE NEW TASKING, PROVIDING QUALITY IMAGERY, MONITORING FOR UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM ACTIVITY, AND UPDATING THE USS NIMITZ STRIKE GROUP ON THE HIGH-INTEREST UNIT'S POSITION AND ACTIVITIES. FURTHER, HE LED A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PORT VISIT WITH USS WHIRLWIND IN JEBEL ALI, UAE, BECOMING THE FIRST COMBINED TASK FORCE 55 PATROL BOAT TO RESUPPLY IN A PORT OUTSIDE BAHRAIN IN OVER SIX MONTHS, ENABLING MONOMOY TO EXECUTE A 12-DAY PATROL IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION SENTINEL, PROTECTING U.S. AND ALLIED COMMERCIAL AND MILITARY SHIPPING FROM REGIONAL THREATS IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. LIEUTENANT BLAND'S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, PERSONAL INITIATIVE, AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
DURING PETTY OFFICER MAHAN'S EXEMPLARY TOUR ONBOARD USS HIGGINS (DDG 76) FROM OCTOBER 2018 TO MAY 2022. HE SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATED THROUGH OVER 100,000 NAUTICAL MILES OF WATER TO INCLUDE 22 STRAIT TRANSITS, TWO FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION MOVEMENTS, AND OVER 60 SEA AND ANCHOR DETAILS. IN ADDITION, PETTY OFFICER MAHAN ASSISTED IN THE CERTIFICATION OF THE COMMAND THROUGH TWO BASIC AND ADVANCED PHASES IN THE MOB-N, MOB-D, F-SOM, 3M, AND ATFP WARFARE AREAS.
FOR OUTSTANDING MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST AT TACTICAL AIR CONTROL SQUADRON TWELVE FROM AUGUST 2018 TO SEPTEMBER 2021. PETTY OFFICER LEAL CONSISTENTLY PERFORMED HIS DEMANDING DUTIES IN AN EXEMPLARY AND HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. HE PROVIDED MISSION CRITICAL INTELLIGENCE TO OVER 300 PERSONNEL AND PRODUCED 200 INTELLIGENCE BRIEFS TO PROVIDE INDICATIONS AND WARNING FOR U.S. ASSETS CONDUCTING ECC OPS, FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION OPERATIONS, AND PACIFIC PRESENCE OPERATIONS. PETTY OFFICER LEAL'S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, UNRELENTING PERSEVERANCE, AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
AS NCCC WATCH OFFICER, SENIOR CHIEF VAUGHAN PROVIDED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FOR TWO FLEETS, NINE COMMANDER TASK FORCES, FIVE COMMANDER CARRIER STRIKE GROUPS, AND FIVE AMPHIBIOUS READINESS GROUPS. HE TRACKED OVER 3,000 COMMUNICATIONS EVENTS, 530 AUTHORIZED SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS, AND 300 SATELLITE ACCESS REQUESTS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE SUCCESS OF 12 FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION OPERATIONS, 10 TAIWAN STRAIT TRANSITS, AND OVER 15 TRI-LATERAL, BI-LATERAL, AND JOINT COMMUNICATIONS EXERCISES.
DISPLAYING EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP, VISION, AND DEDICATION, COMMANDER OWENS GUIDED THE ORGANIZATION, PERFORMANCE, AND GOOD ORDER AND DISCIPLINE OF THE COMMAND. DURING HIS TENURE, HE ASSIMILATED 33 NEW UNIT MEMBERS FROM NAVY RESERVE (NR) MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND (MSC) TACAD AND N6 DURING THE NR MSC REORGANIZATION, INTO AN EXISTING 54 MEMBER UNIT. HIS ACTIONS DIRECTLY IMPROVED THE UNIT'S ACTIVE DUTY SUPPORT THROUGH 3,000 DAYS OF MARITIME GLOBAL OPERATION CENTER BATTLE WATCH AND 1235 DAYS OF AT, 344 DAYS OF TACAD SUPPORT, AND 456 DAYS OF MOBILE EXPEDITIONARY COMMUNICATIONS KIT (MECK) TRAINING, AND 16 QUALIFICATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE LEADING SEVEN PERSONNEL DURING PACIFIC SENTRY 21 AND TURBO CHALLENGE 24, COMMANDER OWENS ACTED AS THE EXERCISE MOC-D AND DELIVERED DAILY FLAG BRIEFS TO TASK FORCE COMMANDERS AND VALIDATED THE MOBILE LOGISTICS CAMPAIGN PLAN STRUCTURE. FURTHER, HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE SUCCESS OF MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND'S 3-WEEK SURGE TO NAVCENT, ASSISTING THE NAVAL COOPERATION AND GUIDANCE FOR SHIPPING (NCAGS) BY COMMITTING HIMSELF TO 40 HOURS OF WATCH AND DEVELOPING A NEAR AND LONG-TERM RESERVE SUPPORT SUSTAINMENT PLAN IN SUPPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE'S GOAL OF ENSURING FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION DURING OPERATION PROSPERITY GUARDIAN.
CHIEF DOE EXCELLED IN HIS LEADERSHIP OF 26 JUNIOR SAILORS DURING EXERCISE SMOKE EM. HIS TEAM OF SAILORS PROVIDED 250 MANDAYS OF SUPPORT TO THE MULTINATIONAL EFFORTS PROTECTING FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN. IN ADDITION TO THE LEADERSHIP OF HIS JUNIOR SAILORS, CHIEF DOE PERSONALLY TRAINED EIGHT FOREIGN NATIONALS IN SYSTEMS CRITICAL TO SUCCESSFUL JOINT OPERATIONS.
HIS DILIGENT VOYAGE PLANNING AND KEEN OVERSIGHT OF THE NAVIGATION WATCH TEAM WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF EIGHT SEA AND ANCHOR DETAILS, THREE FOREIGN PORT VISITS, TWO FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION OPERATIONS, AND THREE STRAIT TRANSITS WITH ZERO INCIDENTS. FURTHERMORE, HIS SUPPORT DURING THE 2017 NAVIGATION ASSESSMENT DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESSFUL NAVIGATION CERTIFICATION FOR CARNEY.
PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS STRIKE TEAM DATA BASE MANAGER AND CIC WATCH SUPERVISOR FOR USS WILLIAM P. LAWRENCE (DDG 110) FROM AUGUST 2014 TO SEPTEMBER 2018. DURING THIS PERIOD, PETTY OFFICER CUMMINS EXECUTED OVER ONE HUNDRED STRIKE TEAM SCENARIOS IN THE THIRD, SEVENTH, AND FIFTH FLEET AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY, RESULTING IN AN OVERALL CMTQ SCORE OF 90 PERCENT AND FLAWLESS COP MANAGEMENT OF THE NIMITZ AND JOHN C. STENNIS STRIKE GROUPS' DEPLOYMENT. AS CIC WATCH SUPERVISOR, HE MANAGED OVER 50 EVOLUTIONS WITH ZERO MISHAPS, DRAFTED 300 OPREP-5 MESSAGES, AND EXECUTED TWO PACIFIC PRESENCE OPERATION TRANSITS AND ONE FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION OPERATION. HIS EFFORTS ENHANCED THE SURFACE WARFARE MISSIONS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE RESOUNDING SUCCESS OF THE NIMITZ AND JOHN C. STENNIS STRIKE GROUPS' DEPLOYMENT. ADDITIONALLY, HIS LEADERSHIP AND CIC TRAINING RESULTED IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF 30 SAILORS AND 75 ESWS QUALIFICATIONS. PETTY OFFICER CUMMINS' LEADERSHIP, PERSONAL INITIATIVE, AND STEADFAST DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.
ANALYSIS AND PRODUCTION AND BATTLE FORCE COMINT ANALYST AT NAVIOCOM BAHRAIN FROM AUGUST 2017 TO AUGUST 2017. PETTY OFFICER WIDENER REVIEWED OVER 3200 TIME-SENSITIVE REPORTS AND 80 SPOT REPORTS KEEPING REGIONAL COMMANDERS UPDATED ON THE MARITIME AND AIR ACTIVITY PICTURE, ENSURING FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION IN THE 5TH FLEET AOR. ADDITIONALLY, HE CONTRIBUTED TO 84 WEEKLY OPERATIONS BRIEFS, ENABLING TACTICAL COMMANDERS TO SUCCESSFULLY EXPLOIT HIGH-PRIORITY TARGETS IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE.