In a ceremony at the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) on 23 March 2012, the Naval Intelligence Professionals (NIP) Capitol Chapter ONI Sailor of the Year award was presented to four deserving Petty Officers. The awards ceremony was presided over by CAPT Robert Rupp, USN, Commander ONI. Representing the NIP Foundation Committee and presenting the awards was CAPT Mark Greer, USN (Ret). Each award consisted of a Certificate of Recognition, a $100 cash award and 1-year membership in NIP.
ONI Blue Jacket of the Year
IT3 Alexis D. Slankard, USN was recognized for her superior performance while serving in the Hopper Information Services Center in the Enterprise Operations Department, where she is assigned to the detachment at Hopper Southeast at JTC-I ONI. She completed all of her PQS’s ahead of schedule and her peers. While completing her qualifications, IT3 Slankard managed to start a command MWR program and a Meals on Wheels program. She is actively pursuing a degree in Computer Science. She also received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal from CAPT Rupp.
ONI Junior Sailor of the Year
For her service in ONI Hopper Information Services Center as a Communications Watch Officer and 3M Coordinator since November 2012, IT2 (IDW/SW/AW) Kimberly B. Smith, USN, was recognized as the ONI Junior Sailor of the Year. IT2 Smith is essential to the smooth running of the Hopper and was also selected as the Division Training Petty Officer. Previous duty stations include Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Yokosuka, Japan and the USS NIMITZ. She received Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal from CAPT Rupp.
Reserve Sailor of the Year
A Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal will be presented to IS1 Gabriel V. Garcia, USNR, for his selection as the ONI Reserve Sailor of the Year. IS1 Gabriel has served for 15 years in the Naval Reserve, most recently with ONI Det 0194 (ONI-0194) where he is the command Leading Petty Officer and Command Fitness Leader. He has been mobilized in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE and served with the Joint Special Operations Command. While training at the Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center in Fort Jackson he served as First Platoon Leader in Alpha Company. He has been selected as the command Sailor of the Quarter on numerous occasions. IS1 Gabriel was unable to attend the ceremony and will revive his award a later date.
Sailor of the Year
IT1 (SW/AW) Danny C. Pringle, USN, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal by CAPT Rupp recognizing his selection as the ONI Sailor of the Year. IT1 Pringle is assigned to the ONIK Hopper Information Services Center where he has quickly become indispensible. Previous tours of duty include: USS AVENGER, Training Support Center (TSC) Hampton Roads. While at TSC, IT1 Pringle was twice deployed to Iraq, including service as the Communications support on the Commander MNF-Iraq Personal Security Detachment, and later at the Theater Command Control Center. He then reported to HM-14 where he was responsible for coordinating all comms efforts for four different mobile deployment detachments.
From left to right, Capt Greer, IT3 Slankard, IT2 Smith, IT1 Pringle, and Capt Rupp