On Tuesday, 15 November, Naval Historical Foundation Executive Director Captain Todd Creekman had the opportunity to participate in a Capitol Hill luncheon honoring officers and sailors from USS Enterprise who were selected as the 2010 and 2011 leadership award winners. The Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership has established a special leadership awards program on eight USN aircraft carriers –John C. Stennis, Enterprise, Carl Vinson, Harry S. Truman, Abraham Lincoln, Nimitz, George H.W. Bush, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. This awards program recognizes crew members who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in their respective carriers. The winners are selected through a ship-wide competition. The award winners travel to Washington, DC where they meet with members of Congress and Congressional staff and other civilian leaders. As the leadership award winners are honored and learn about how policy is made in Washington, the civilian leaders have an opportunity to learn about the life, values, culture and institutions of the military through visits with the military members and their spouses. Including spouses in these discussions helps further the understanding of contributions made by the family members of those who serve in the American military.
Led by 2010 Admiral James L. Holloway Leadership Awardee, USS Enterprise Chief Engineer Captain Mark Metzger, this year’s Enterprise award recipients spent a busy couple of days away from the Norfolk waterfront culminating in the luncheon in the U.S. Capitol. Captain Creekman presented each award winner with a personal congratulatory letter from Foundation Chairman Emeritus Admiral James L. Holloway III, USN (Ret.). Admiral Holloway was the third Enterprise commanding officer from July 1965 through July 1967. His thirty-nine years of service on active duty encompassed combat in three wars and culminated in service as the twentieth Chief of Naval Operations from 1974-1978.
