PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) announced its 2020 Sailor of the Year (SOY) May 27.

Fifteen finalists for SOY serving throughout the MyNavy HR Force Development domain rose through a number of competitions to represent the top achievers in recruiting and training from a pool of more than 4,490 military members.

Interior Communications Electrician 1^st Class Robert Copeland, representing Center for Surface Combat Systems, was selected as the 2020 NETC Sailor of the Year (SOY).  He has been pre-selected for advancement to Chief Petty Officer and will complete CPO initiation and pinning in the fall.  The NETC SOY program recognizes Sailors throughout the NETC domain who exhibit attributes such as sustained superior performance, leadership, mentorship, knowledge and teaching of military history and heritage, self-improvement, command and community involvement, and exemplary military bearing.

Rear Adm. Peter Garvin, NETC commander, congratulated all the finalists for their roles in shaping the Navy's future force and for their contributions to the recruiting, training, and education mission.

“The competition was extremely keen and reflected the high caliber of Sailors we have serving across the NETC domain,” said Garvin. “Each of our finalists represented their commands and the entire enlisted community with distinction and each should be extremely proud of their professional and personal achievements.”

Copeland is currently serving as an Interior Communications Electrician “A” & “C” School instructor at the Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit, Great Lakes.  He was selected as Sailor of the Quarter (2^nd Quarter) and Sailor of the Year for fiscal-year 2020.

“I am proud, honored, and humbled to have been selected to represent NETC as their Fiscal Year 20 Sailor of the Year,” said Copeland. “This accomplishment is a significant milestone for my career, one which wouldn’t have been possible without my family, who have been my rock, and the trust and support of my peers and leadership alike at CSCSU Great Lakes and our domain, CSCS.”

Copeland, like many of this year’s finalists, is also qualified as a Master Training Specialist, which is a designation for demonstrating highly effective teaching skills and a comprehensive understanding of schoolhouse management, as well as for taking a leadership role in mentoring, instructing and evaluating instructors and curriculum. 

The 2020 NETC SOY finalists include:
* Navy Diver 1^st Class Michael Christensen, Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving
* Navy Counselor 1^st Class Cyril Totimeh, Navy Recruiting Command
* Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1^st Class Mallory MacPherson, Center for Information Warfare Training
* Builder 1^st Class Jamey Parker, Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering
* Electronics Technician 1^st Class Robert Clinton, Training Support Center Hampton Roads
* Damage Controlman 1^st Class Jordan Belcher, Training Support Center Great Lakes
* Engineman 1^st Class Terrill Luddley, Surface Warfare Schools Command
* Damage Controlman 1^st Class Jacob Barr, Naval Service Training Command
* Machinist Mate (Nuclear Power) 1^st Class Nicholas Wolfe, Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit
* Aviation Electronics Technician 1^st Class Angelica Llamas, Naval Education and Training Command
* Musician 1^st Class Jacob Stith, Naval School of Music
* Aviation Ordnanceman 1^st Class Hiesha Pinkston, Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training
* Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 1^st Class Mark Ward, Center for Security Forces
* Boatswain’s Mate 1^st Class Dane Niles, Submarine Learning Center

Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) is the U.S. Navy’s Force Development pillar and largest shore command.  Through its “Street to Fleet” focus, NETC recruits civilians and transforms them into skilled warfighters ready to meet the current and future needs of the U.S. Navy.

For more information about NETC, visit the command’s website at https://www.netc.navy.mil and follow MyNavy HR on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MyNavyHR.