2024 Red Tie Award Winners Announced!

LCDR Terry Wilton, U.S. Navy (Retired)

For exceptional service and outstanding contributions during and following a distinguished 45-year Navy and Intelligence Community career. Let it be widely known that Terry Wilton has earned the respect, admiration, and appreciation of all Naval Intelligence Professionals.  

Terry graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1977 and served in uniform as a naval aviator and intelligence officer, retiring in 1994. He continued his service as a contractor and career intelligence officer, contributing immeasurably to our nation's security. Finally, he served as Executive Director of Naval Intelligence Professionals from January 2009 until his passing.

After commissioning and flight training, he received his naval flight officer wings in the spring of 1978. Initially assigned to training in the A-6E Intruder at VA-128 in Whidbey Island, Washington, he requested and was granted a change of designator to Restricted Line–Special Duty Intelligence (1630). Terry’s sea tours included two overseas deployments with Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron VAQ-134 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68); one partial deployment with VAQ-134 aboard USS Constellation (CV-64); and two overseas deployments as Air Wing 17 Intelligence Officer aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60). 

His shore tours included three years on the watch floor at the Navy Field Operational Intelligence Office in Suitland, Maryland; one year at the then-Defense Intelligence College (at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.) where he earned a master’s degree in strategic intelligence; three years at the International Programs Office at Commander Naval Intelligence Command in Suitland, two years at the CIA (liaison officer at Project TSUNAMI), and a split tour in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as officer-in-charge of the Office of Naval Intelligence’s (ONI’s) Pacific Forward Support Team, and then as special programs manager in the N2 division at the headquarters of the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, in Pearl Harbor. 

Upon retirement from active duty in 1994, Terry continued his service as a contractor and career Naval Intelligence officer, contributing immeasurably to our nation's security. He worked as a contractor at Suitland, supporting the Maritime Systems Program Management Office (MSPMO – ONI-34) for 14 years (1995–2009) as the mission planner, and then the Special Platforms Division (ONI-N312) from 2009–2022 as the logistics coordinator. 

Vice Admiral (Ret) Jake Jacoby, during his tenure as NIP Chair, recruited Terry to be the NIP Executive Director. Terry was the face of every NIP function over the last 15 years. He was most often the first to arrive, and the last to leave, working the registration table, and managing the NIP ship store. He had an infectious positive attitude that set the tone and permeated all NIP gatherings. A humble servant-leader, Terry worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything related to NIP ran smoothly. In addition to his significant contributions to the national leadership team for five consecutive NIP Chairs and six NIP Presidents, Terry also served as Treasurer for the DC NIP Chapter.

Terry Wilton truly distinguished himself and we honor his contributions to NIP, Naval Intelligence, our Navy, and our Nation. BRAVO ZULU. Well done, shipmate!

Mr. Michael R. Borland

For exceptional service and outstanding contributions over an incomparable 37-year Naval Intelligence career. Let it be widely known that Mr. Michael Borland has earned the respect, admiration, and appreciation of all Naval Intelligence Professionals.  

Michael R. Borland has had a long and distinguished career in Naval Intelligence, including service as the Deputy Commander, Office of Naval Intelligence and in his current critical role as the ONI Senior Advisor for Collection and Partnerships.

Mr. Borland began his career in Naval Intelligence in 1987, following graduation from Johns Hopkins University, as an Operational Intelligence (OPINTEL) analyst focusing on the Soviet Navy. His early career included tours in the Submarine Analysis Group and the Civil Maritime Department, and as executive assistant to ONI’s senior civilian director. From 1998 to 2001 he was the first Naval Intelligence Manager of a special bilateral intelligence collection program. 

In 2001 the incoming Commander, Office of Naval Intelligence selected Mr. Borland to be the Command's Operations Officer; a position he held from July 2001 through September 2003. In this position, he was a key leader for ONI during the critical post-9/11 period, after which Mr. Borland was recognized with the Navy's Superior Civilian Service Award. 

From 2003 to 2009 Mr. Borland was head of the ONI Special Programs Office, his second tour as the department head in this organization. During his three years as program manager, he saw the program through a Congressionally-directed transition and secured modernization funding for the effort. 

In 2009 he began serving as ONI's Senior Advisor for Collection Operations, overseeing and coordinating ONI’s collection requirements and activities. In 2015, he received the Presidential Rank Award for superior accomplishment. Mr. Borland served as the Deputy Commander, Office of Naval Intelligence from October 2017 through April 2019 until the position was permanently filled.

His current service as Senior Advisor for Collection and Partnerships has been truly transformational in ensuring that Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets are optimized to face the challenges of peer adversaries. As an early recognizer of Great Power Competition (GPC) and the coming need for a pivot to the Pacific by the U.S. Navy, Mr. Borland has worked creatively and in painstaking detail to increase Allied collaboration and capacity in the North Atlantic Ocean and Norwegian Sea, regions that are the crucible of GPC in the Euro-Atlantic Theater. 

Mr. Michael Borland has truly distinguished himself over a long career and deserves our heartiest thanks for past and continued contributions to NIP, Naval Intelligence, our Navy, and our Nation. BRAVO ZULU. Well done, shipmate!