Academic Year 2024-25 Rear Admiral Sumner Shapiro Scholarship Program
NIP Announces the Winners of the 2022 Rear Admiral Sumner Scholarship Program
Winners of the 2021 RADM Sumner Shapiro Scholarship Contest Announced
Petty Officer Cobalt Henson is currently assigned to Cyber Strike Activity Sixty-three (CSA-63) and pursuing a degree in cybersecurity information technology at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Longer term, he plans to seek a reserve commission as an 1835 and continue serving as a senior cyber security analyst.
Not awarded
Not awarded
Intelligence Specialist First Class Amber Hart is a member of the N2 Department at Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group (NCWDG) conducting research to assist in the development, testing and delivery of advanced cyber, cryptologic and electronic warfare capabilities to the U.S. Navy and she attends the University of Maryland Global Campus as a Political Science major with a 4.0 grade point average. The commanding officer of NCWDG describes IS1 Hart as, “a sustained superior performer and innovative thinker.” In her ten year career, she has been assigned a variety of duties including as an imagery analyst at the Office of Naval Intelligence, working for the Maritime geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) office, and serving as a full-motion video analyst embarked in the USS McFaul (DDG-74) on a U.S. Africa Command deployment. Given the opportunity to transition into the operational intelligence (OPINTEL) community, IS1 Hart served as the lead Intelligence Specialist at VAQ-135 deploying to both the Pacific and Central Command areas of responsibility. Her experience as the Leading Petty Officer at multiple commands sparked her passion for encouraging and enhancing the professional and personal lives of her shipmates. The Navy has given IS1 Hart more than she thought possible from traveling the world, meeting people from all walks of life, sailing the open seas, and working in intelligence programs of continuous and endless diversity. IS1 Hart’s goal is to obtain her Bachelor degree as soon as possible and apply to Officer Candidate School to be an Intelligence Officer. She is the recipient of the 2020 Captain Anthony D. Sesow Scholarship.
Intelligence Specialist Second Class Mikala Piazza attends American Military University and is a Technical Management Major with a concentration in project management where she maintains a 3.9 grade point average. Petty Officer Piazza is stationed at the Defense Intelligence Agency and was ranked one of 14 E-5s in the Joint Staff J2. Petty Officer Piazza is a board member, qualifier, and coordinator for the Enlisted Information Warfare Specialist qualification program for the DIA. Her prior duty stations were at USSTRATCOM CMSA in Norfolk, Virginia and USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) and USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76) in Yokosuka, Japan. Her career plan is to eventually separate from the Navy, commission as a reserve naval intelligence officer, and gain employment at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency to continue her career in national security.
Intelligence Specialist Second Class, Brandon Biwer is Information Warfare qualified and serves as a member of the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot. He was instrumental in developing new standard operating procedures for production, improving the time-sensitive, tailored intelligence support to the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations. Petty Officer Biwer’s career goal is to become a Navy officer, and he would like to be a fighter pilot or an intelligence officer. He has been enrolled part-time in American Military University since 2017, has completed private pilot ground school. He is also an applicant for the fiscal year 2019 Seaman to Admiral program.
Taylor K. Whitworth, sponsored by RDML Frank Whitworth III of AFRICOM, lives in Durham NC. She will be starting her fourth year at Duke University with a double major in International Comparative Studies (Middle East) and English, with a minor in Arabic. She plans to apply her work in Comparative Studies to a government career. This is her second award of a NIP Scholarship.
PO2 Erika G. Casey is stationed at Naval Expeditionary Intelligence Command in Virginia Beach VA, but currently deployed for six months to CNE-CAN-C6F working in the HUMINT arena. She is taking classes at Northeastern University (Boston) and will graduate in 2017 with a degree in Health Management and a minor in Neuroscience.
Not awarded
IS2(DW) Ann B. Tucker, COMUSNAVCENT, attending the University of Maryland University College working towards a Bachelor of the Arts in Global Affairs. Letter of recommendation from CDR Jeffrey Johnson, Chief of Analysis, N2, USNAVCENT
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Laura Elliott (second award), continuing her studies at University of Virginia, majoring in Math and Drama.
Sponsor: CAPT Mark Elliott, CNO Strategic Studies Group, Newport
Laura E. Elliott
Sponsor: CAPT Mark R. Elliott stationed at Commander SECOND Fleet
GySgt Michael R. Kristek, Sr., USMC, attending the Military College of South Carolina, The Citadel, assigned to the Marine Corps Detachment, Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, Virginia Beach, VA
Winner: IS2 Eugene M. Padden, USN, attending the American Military University, assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot, Washington, DC
ISSN Anthony R. Barron, USNR, attending his second year at the University of Texas, assigned to the RIA Southeast, COMNAVRESINTCOM
IS1 (SW/AW) Keila F. Ortiz Caraballo, USN, attending Temple University, Japan Campus, assigned to the Defense Attaché Office, U.S. Embassy, Tokyo, Japan
IS3 Jonathan A. Lockwood, USN, attending Troy University
IS2 Damian A. Martin, USN, attending the University of Maryland, University College, Europe
Jonathan Lindsay Inman, attending the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering.
Sponsor: CDR Carl R. Inman, who is the ACOS for Intelligence, Commander Strike Force Training Group Pacific at NAS North Island.
Andrew Elliott who will attend Virginia Tech.