The Center for Security Forces Commanding Officer, Capt. Douglas Pegher announced Aviation Ordnance 1st Class Kimberly Harris as the command's top Sailor for 2021 during a virtual ceremony, Oct. 26.

"Petty Officer Harris is the top-performing first class petty officer at CENSECFOR," said Pegher. "She is a driving force at Learning Site Gulfport, and her enthusiasm, charisma, leadership, guidance, and mission accomplishment are evidence to that fact."

Harris, a native of Frierson, Louisiana, enlisted in the United States Navy in 2012. Previously, she has helped train new Navy pilots and aircrews on various helicopter weapons systems. She has also served as a quality assurance representative aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), conducting operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. In the words of one of her former supervisors, "she is a rising star!"

"Professionally, being the CENSECFOR Sailor of the Year means that I am continually growing in my career and that I have impacted my command and contributed to the mission of the Navy in many ways," said Harris. "It's an honorable feeling to know that I am trusted with leading and developing Sailors every day.”

Currently, Harris is assigned to CENSECFOR Learning Site Gulfport, where she serves as the training and operations leading petty officer. In that capacity, she oversaw 2,608 students during 325-hours of mishap-free training in firearms and ammunition handling. That included the safe execution of 41 high-risk evolutions and the expenditure of more than 215-thousand small arms rounds.

"Personally, being Sailor of the Year means that I am continuing to make my family proud," said Harris. "This amazing accomplishment helps show my family that the hard work and sacrifices I have made during my career are not going unnoticed."

Harris also shared that the most significant challenge she faced this past year was adjusting to all the COVID019 precautions and safety measures and helping Sailors, new and old alike, adapt to them as well.

When asked what advice she would offer to her fellow Sailors who aspire to be a Sailor of the Year, she said:

"Continue to strive for greatness every day with everything you are tasked. Do not settle for mediocre: when one door closes, open the other one. The Navy is your Navy, and your career is ultimately in your hands. It is not going to be easy every day but you [must] have faith in the system; trust the processes that are in place."

Since no one achieves success independent of others, Harris expressed her appreciation to her parents and fiancé for all the sacrifices they have made to ensure her success as a United States Navy Sailor. She also expressed her gratitude to Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Ronald White, Chief Warrant Officer Jon Accomando, Seabee Master Chief Joshua Schlegel, and Cmdr. Brian Carroll for molding her into the Sailor that she is today. She shared her appreciation to all the junior Sailors who have trusted her to lead and guide them in the right direction.

"My next career objective is to make chief petty officer," said Harris. "Achieving Sailor of the Year is definitely going to put me in a higher bracket for achieving that objective. I will continue to build my career and my leadership techniques, so when that day comes, I am ready."

The Center for Security Forces provides specialized training to more than 23,000 students per year. It has 14 training locations across the United States and worldwide that carry the motto: "Where Training Breeds Confidence."