ONI Recognizes Top Performers at Birthday Celebration

ONI held its annual awards ceremony in conjunction with its birthday celebration on Monday, 23 March 2026 to recognize its top-performing sailors and civilians for 2025.

NIP Chair VADM (Ret) Bob Sharp was there to present the NIP-sponsored awards to the deserving individuals. In his comments, Sharp echoed COMONI RADM Mike Brookes’ words about all the tremendous contributions ONI has made, especially regarding current operations. He also emphasized the importance of NIP’s relationship with ONI and reminded everyone that NIP is open to everyone, even though the organization started out as one that only included retirees. Today, officers, enlisted, active duty, reserve, retired, and civilians can all be members of NIP. Finally, Sharp acknowledged the importance presence of the families in the room who were there to celebrate with the awardees. "You may not know what your awardees did, but if you did, you would be even more proud of them,” he told them.

Congratulations to the following individuals:

2025 ONI CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP AWARD: Alaina Thaxter

2025 CAPTAIN SIDNEY WOOD ONI JUNIOR OFFICER OF THE YEAR: LT Ye Hyun Sen

2025 ONI SAILOR OF THE YEAR: