The Sea Services Leadership Association (SSLA), the only national non-profit organization dedicated to the mentorship and professional development of women in the sea services, has unveiled its 2021 awards program, meant to recognize exceptional members within the uniformed service community who embody the spirt, mission, and vision of SSLA.

“Since our inception, SSLA has always focused on empowering strong and inspirational leaders who serve as mentors and advocates, lighting the way for others through their personal action and exceptional performance,” said SSLA President Lt. Col. Jenny Storm. “This year, we’ve reinvigorated our awards program with a mindset of inclusion, adding several new awards that recognize outstanding men and women from the services and Department of Defense across a wide spectrum of leadership.”

SSLA’s 2021 awards include four major categories encompassing men and women from the sea services and across the wider Department of Defense.

The Rising Star Award recognizes five graduating female midshipman candidates enrolled in a military reserve officer training corps (ROTC) or officer-in-training (OIT) program (Navy, USMC or Coast Guard) who have demonstrated exceptional performance in academics, leadership and community service over the course of their ROTC/OIT program.

The Emerging Leader Award will be presented to one female active duty or reserve junior enlisted member (E3 to E6), one active duty or reserve junior officer (O1 to O4), and/or one government civilian employee (GS-5 to GS-12 or their equivalent), male or female, to recognize exceptional leadership in furthering the mission and vision of SSLA within the uniformed services.

The Compass Award will be presented to an active duty or reserve enlisted member, in the pay grades of E7 or above, male or female, who has demonstrated continued exceptional leadership in furthering the mission and vision of SSLA within the uniformed services.

The North Star Award will be presented to an active duty or reserve officer in the pay grades of O-5 and higher or a government civilian employee in paygrades GS-13 (or equivalent) to Senior Executive Service (SES), male or female, who has demonstrated continued exceptional leadership in furthering the mission and vision of SSLA within the uniformed services.

SSLA will select Rising Star Award winners and inform commanding officers or officers-in-charge/chain of command no later than April 15, 2021, and awardees will be announced via the SSLA webpage and social media outlets.

SSLA will select Emerging Leader, Compass and North Star Award winners and inform COs or OICs/chain of command no later than May 15, 2021, and SSLA will announce awardees via the SSLA webpage and social media outlets. SSLA will also recognize these award winners at the annual Sea Services Leadership Association’s Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium, 31 August – 02 September, hosted in Norfolk, VA.

Specific information and eligibility criteria for each award and the process for submitting nominees is available at https://sealeader.org/ssla-awards.

For more information, contact the SSLA Awards Coordinator ITC Sydny Moat at sslaawards@gmail.com.