ALCOAST 235/19 - JUL 2019 SOLICITATION FOR COPERNICUS AWARD 2020

R 190840 JUL 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-6//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01650//
ALCOAST 235/19
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ:  SOLICITATION FOR COPERNICUS AWARD 2020
1. This ALCOAST is a solicitation for the 2020 Copernicus Award nominations.
The Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare in
partnership with the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics
Association (AFCEA) and the United States Naval Institute (USNI)
announces the request for nominations for the 2020 Copernicus Award
(for accomplishments in FY 2019). The Copernicus Award was established to
recognize individual contributions to naval warfare in command, control,
communications, computers and intelligence (C4I), cyber operations and
information warfare. The award is sponsored by the AFCEA and the USNI.
2. The combined efforts of the fleet and the shore establishment have been
notably successful in bringing the maritime services smartly into the
information age. Individual sailors and civilian employees have played
critical roles in enabling a revolution in military and civil affairs based
on communications and information technologies. Our achievements have been
made through a set of common principles, and most importantly, the actions
and determination of individuals, military, civilian, junior, and senior.
3. Award criteria and eligibility. Nominees must have made a specific,
demonstrable contribution to the advancement of C4I, Information Systems,
or Cyber Operations. Contributions can be technical in nature, but may
also originate from doctrinal, financial, organizational, or other
dimensions of information systems. The contribution should involve
exceptional initiative, leadership, and insight within the nominee’s area
of expertise. All U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and
Civil Service personnel are eligible for nomination. Up to 22 awardees
will be selected. Each nominating command is limited to two nominees.
No contractor or team (more than one person) nominations will be accepted.
Nominations must be unclassified.
4. Nominations and presentation. The awardees will be selected from
nominations received from U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S.
Coast Guard (including Joint/North Atlantic Treaty Organization) commands,
afloat and ashore. Nominations must not contain any personal identifiable
information, be on letterhead and submitted by email in PDF format. 
Nominations for Commanding Officers or Officers in Charge must be signed by
their Immediate Superior in Command. Flag endorsements and letters of
recommendation are neither required nor desired. The nomination template and
additional nomination package information, as well as the most up-to-date
point of contact information can be found at:
https://www.milsuite.mil/book/docs/DOC-489512, and award information can be
found at: https://www.afcea.org/site/?q=awards/copernicus/nomination.
Nominations must be submitted no later than 1 November 2019 to:
edfoundation@afcea.org.
5. Late nominations will not be considered. The selection board will make
its recommendations for individual award selectees to AFCEA/USNI.
AFCEA/USNI will make final selections and OPNAV will announce the awardees
via NAVADMIN message.
6. Award Ceremony. The annual Copernicus Awards ceremony will be held 2-3 March
2020 at the AFCEA/USNI WEST 2020 conference in San Diego, CA at the San Diego
Convention Center. Cost to attend if selected is the responsibility of the
members command. If awardees are unable to attend the March ceremony, the
awards will also be presented 2-4 June 2020 at the AFCEA TechNet Cyber
Conference in Baltimore, MD at the Baltimore Convention Center. Attire is
Service Dress Blue and business attire for civilians. For more information go
to: https://www.afcea.org/site/?q=awards/copernicus/nomination/.
7. POC: CDR Jessica Fant, Executive Assistant to COMDT (CG-6) at (202) 475-3553.
8. RADM David M. Dermanelian, Assistant Commandant for C4IT, sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.