ALCOAST 322/21 - SEP 2021 SOLICITATION FOR COPERNICUS AWARD 2022

R 091926Z SEP 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 322/21
SSIC 1650
SUBJ:  SOLICITATION FOR COPERNICUS AWARD 2022
1. This ALCOAST is a solicitation for the 2022 Copernicus Award
(for accomplishments in 2021) 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 2022 Copernicus Award. 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
operational or technical in nature. They may originate from
operational, 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 30 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:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.afcea.org/site/sites/default/files/files/FY21
CopernicusTemplate.pdf

Award information can be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.afcea.org/site/awards/copernicus

Nominations must be submitted no later than 1 November 2021 to:
edfoundation@afcea.org. Late nominations will not be considered.
5. AFCEA and USNI will make the final selections. The Deputy Chief
of Naval Operations for Information Warfare will announce the
awardees via NAVADMIN.
6. Award Ceremony. The annual Copernicus Awards ceremony will be
held at the AFCEA/USNI WEST 2022 conference in San Diego, CA at the
San Diego Convention Center. Cost to attend if selected is the
responsibility of the member's command. If awardees are unable to
attend the ceremony, the awards will also be presented at the AFCEA
TechNet Cyber Conference in Baltimore, MD at the Baltimore
Convention Center on a date to be determined. Attire is Service
Dress Blue and business attire for civilians. For more information
go to:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.afcea.org/site/?q=awards/copernicus/nomination

7. POC: CAPT John DeBok, Executive Assistant to COMDT (CG-6) at
(202) 475-3553.
8. RADM David M. Dermanelian, Assistant Commandant for C4IT
(CG-6), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.