NAVAL SUBMARINE BASE NEW LONDON, Conn. - Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Dane A. Niles was recognized as the Submarine Learning Center’s 2020 sailor of the year by Capt. Jack Houdeshell, commanding officer.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, with over thirteen years of naval service, Niles began his career in the surface warfare community aboard USS Denver (LPD 9), where he served for five years and went underway on eight deployments in support of amphibious operations in the Pacific Ocean.

Niles reported to Naval Submarine School in 2018, and currently serves as the Student Control Officer—responsible for maintaining the accession and throughput of over 1,200 Sailors annually. Niles has served as a support and mentor for Sailors undergoing training at Naval Submarine School, and also served on boards which certify the school’s master training specialists. Niles’ efforts directly contributed to the Navy vision of providing Ready, Relevant Learning to Sailors.

Niles received the Sailor of the Year designation due to his impeccable attention to detail and his diligence in maintaining a positive training environment for NSS Sailors in an increasingly challenging COVID-19 environment. Niles had direct oversight in the execution of over 2,100 student gains in the last year, and taught over 350 hours of initial accession training.

“Petty Officer Niles fosters an environment for Sailors to succeed, often going the extra mile to help others reach their full potential,” said Capt. Steven W. Antcliff, commanding officer of the Naval Submarine School. “Niles is the most well-rounded and best qualified Sailor to represent my command,” Antcliff added.

The sailor of the year designation is awarded to enlisted Sailors selected by their commands as the example of what it means to live the Navy core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment, and is accompanied by the award of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
 
Niles will now proceed to consideration for Sailor of the Year at the Submarine Learning Center’s parent command, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), where he will be competing against Sailors of the Year from throughout the NETC domain.

The Naval Submarine School builds a foundation upon which officers and enlisted personnel are prepared to develop the competence and proficiency in skills necessary to operate and maintain their submarines. The Naval Submarine School is part of the Navy’s Submarine Learning Center, and is located aboard Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, CT.

For more information on the Submarine Learning Center and Naval Submarine School, please visit: https://www.netc.navy.mil/SLC/, https://www.facebook.com/navalsubmarineschool or https://www.facebook.com/submarinelearningcenter