Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), recognized the command’s Pensacola-area Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) Excellence in Safety Award recipients, April 17.

This award acknowledges NETC individuals and activities who have significantly contributed to the command’s primary mission of providing well trained and professional Sailors and Marines to the Fleet in a safe and healthy environment.

“We must balance our day to day training mission while embracing the principles of risk management, training safety protocol, and the Safety and Occupational Health Program by instilling sound safety practices in our daily work ethic,” said Cozad.

NETC Excellence in Safety Award categories included: High Risk Training Safety Officer, Civilian Safety Professional Award, Collateral Duty Safety Officer and Activity Award.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handler) 1st Class Andres Gomez, Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC), Pensacola, Florida, has been NATTC’s high risk training safety officer since January 2017. He was recognized for his oversight of four high-risk firefighting courses and supervision of 41 instructors, which contributed to significant improvements to the command’s High Risk Training Safety program. 

“Through Petty Officer Gomez’s leadership and commitment to safety, NATTC elevated the level of safety for its students and staff, thereby fostering a team atmosphere for safety management,” said Cozad.

Zane Smith, a NATTC safety professional, was cited for his technical expertise and management of 32 Occupational Health and Safety programs. NATTC received a perfect score on NETC’s triennial Safety and Occupational Health Management Evaluation and had significant reductions to the command’s FY18 military on-duty, military off-duty, civilian on-duty and lost time mishaps.

“I commend Mr. Smith for his dedication and extraordinary efforts ensuring NATTC personnel were knowledgeable and well trained in all aspects and applications of risk management, mishap prevention and applicable safety program requirements,” said Cozad.

Other award winners included Staff Sgt. David Melton, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) Detachment Camp Pendleton, California, and Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering (CSFE) Detachment Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Melton, who has been CNATT Det. Camp Pendleton’s command collateral duty safety officer since September 2017, was cited for his meticulous supervision of the command’s Occupational and Health Program. His actions directly led to the command receiving near-perfect grades on both the NETC triennial Safety and Occupational Health Management Evaluation and Camp Pendleton’s Industrial Hygiene report.

CSFE Detachment Fort Leonard Wood was recognized for successfully incorporating the principles of risk-based management to develop and sustain a safety conscious culture. These practices, which resulted in zero class A or B mishaps, on-duty lost time cases, civilian mishaps, private motor vehicle mishaps and off-duty motorcycle mishaps in FY18, showed a positive return on investment by keeping students in the classrooms and staff members at work. 

“While our success is dependent on the combined efforts of all NETC personnel, the award recipients have truly demonstrated their dedication to the command’s safety program,” said Cozad.

The award recipients all received a certificate and plaque in appreciation of their dedication to the NETC Safety Program.

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