ALCOAST 419/25 - OCT 2025 SOLICITATION FOR COPERNICUS AWARD NOMINATIONS

R 032024Z OCT 25 MID320018348954U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 419/25
SSIC 1650
SUBJ: SOLICITATION FOR COPERNICUS AWARD NOMINATIONS
1. This ALCOAST is a solicitation for the Fiscal Year 2025
Copernicus Award (for accomplishments in 2025) nominations.
2. The Copernicus Award recognizes individual contributions
to naval warfare in Command, Control, Communications, Computers,
and Intelligence (C4I), Information Systems, Cyber Operations,
and Information Warfare. The award is sponsored by Armed Forces
Communication and Electronics Association (AFCEA) International
and the United States Naval Institute (USNI).
3. Award criteria and eligibility. Fiscal year 2025 nominees must
have made a specific, demonstrable contribution to the advancement
of C4I, Information Systems, Cyber Operations and Information
Warfare. 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 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 be
on letterhead, be submitted by email in PDF format, and must not
contain any Personally Identifiable Information. 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. Nominations
must be submitted no later than 1 November 2025 to:
edfoundation@afcea.org. Late nominations will not be considered.
5. 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/copernicus-award

6. Award Ceremony. AFCEA International and USNI will make the
final selections. The annual Copernicus Awards ceremony will
be held at the AFCEA International/USNI WEST 2026 Conference
in San Diego, California in January 2026. COMDT (CG-C5I) will
sponsor travel for USCG award recipients in accordance with
USCG FY26 travel guidance. Attire is Service Dress Blue and
business attire for civilians.
7. POC: LCDR Anthony Foss, Executive Assistant to COMDT (CG-C5I)
at Anthony.J.Foss2@uscg.mil or (571) 610-1138.
8. RADM Jon P. Hickey, Assistant Commandant & PEO for C5I, Chief
Information Officer (CG-C5I), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.