The 2009 Sailors and Marine of the year for the U.S. Naval Academy stand during their ceremony in Memorial Hall March 10. From Left to right, YNCS(AW/SW) Lesa Geddes, Gunnery Sgt. Carl Meyers, MU1 Joel Borrelli-Boudreau, ND2 Thomas G. Gaster, SN Danian C. Douglas and EMC(SW) Donavan Porter. U.S.N.A. Photo by David Tucker.

In 2009, Geddes was the only LCPO to hold two summer billets. As Summer Seminar LCPO, she led the training of 210 midshipmen in the education and indoctrination of 2250 prospective academy candidates. She was hand-picked as Plebe Summer Starboard Battalion LCPO and managed eight senior enlisted. She oversaw the transition and ensured the safety of over 700 civilians to midshipmen in preparation for entering the Brigade.

Geddes’ work ethic and unparalleled leadership abilities has had a major impact not only on the midshipmen but the mission of the academy.

Gunnery Sergeant Carl Myers
Gunnery Sergeant Myers is assigned to 24th Company in 5th Battalion on the commandant’s staff. As the SEL for 24th Company, he is directly responsible for the moral, mental and physical development of 138 midshipmen. Myers’ work ethic and unparalleled leadership abilities has had a major impact in the selection, training and development of future Naval officers.

As an instructor for the Marine Corps Practicum and martial arts, he trained and mentored over 50 midshipmen, preparing them for the The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico. As the Staff NCOIC of Leatherneck and Protramid he worked with 19 officers and was responsible for logistics, training, liaison, billeting and welfare of over 350 midshipmen.

Myers also serves as the enlisted representative for the incredibly talented USNA Gospel Choir, a team hand-selected to perform at numerous events including the Martin Luther King Banquet. Committed to the command and community, he organized the Toys for Tots program, presenting over 9000 children with toys for Christmas.

Chief Electrician’s Mate Donavan Porter
Chief Porter is assigned to Waterfront Readiness Department, Small Craft Repair, Electrical Division. As LCPO, he is directly responsible for 27 enlisted sailors and six civilian personnel in the preventive maintenance and upkeep of several monitoring systems onboard 21 yard patrol craft, 20 Navy 44-foot sail training and 81 auxiliary craft.

During the past year, he led 27 sailors through the 2009 LANTPAT summer training program, five movement orders, 17 Division in the Spotlight inspections, diesel inspection, 3M certification, and the 2009 Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) material assessment.

As CPO induction season co-chairman, he organized the training and development of six new chief petty officers. Additionally, he completed his associate degree in electronic technology, proctored three Navy-wide advancement exams, facilitated the first class petty officer indoctrination course and the junior officer leadership challenge capstone seminar.

Navy Diver Second Class Thomas G. Gaster
As assistant LPO, Petty Officer Gaster is responsible for the command diving and jump reporting system (DJRS) in the Waterfront Readiness Department. As the DJRS manager, he logged and reported 84 hours of bottom-time to the Naval Safety Center with zero discrepancies, resulting in 240 requalification dives.

Gaster provided 120 hours of mentorship and guidance to ten midshipmen pursuing special operations.

He was responsible for the administration, evaluation, and selection of six midshipmen, enlisted and officer candidates who are currently attending or recently graduated from Navy Dive School.

Gaster accrued 486 minutes of bottom-time and was selected for a TAD mission to the Navy Degaussing Range, Point Loma, Calif., where he assembled 205 sensors, inspected 2,000 feet of cable, and directly aided in the discovery of five installation errors, saving the Navy $100,000 of rework and keeping the $30 million project on schedule and per design.

Seaman Danian C. Douglas
Seaman Douglas is the leading seaman in Yard Patrol (YP) Squadron Two and on board YP-687. He personally trained more than 1,300 midshipmen during underway lab periods, 75 midshipmen during summer training block cruises, and 400 first-year Midshipmen during Plebe Summer training in Baltimore, Md. He sets the example for quality workmanship for all junior Sailors at Waterfront Readiness Department with a tireless work ethic.

During the first Division in the Spotlight inspection this year, YP-687 received grades of outstanding in the areas of cleanliness, preservation and damage control, primarily due to the efforts of Douglas. For this, he was singularly praised by the Seamanship and Navigation inspection team and his own chain of command for his superb performance.

As designer and publisher of the Waterfront Readiness Newsletter, he showcases departmental achievements in a document distributed quarterly to more than 180 personnel.

Musician First Class Joel Borrelli-Boudreau
As a member of ‘‘The Navy’s Oldest and Finest” since August 1997, Petty Officer Borrelli-Boudreau serves as the Naval Academy Band’s petty officer in charge of travel, the ceremonial unit LPO, and enlisted conductor. As ceremonial unit LPO, he successfully managed all aspects for an 18-piece unit on 48 ceremonial engagements, delivering superior results.

As conductor of ceremonial bands, he conducted seven evolutions for five retirement ceremonies, one morning Colors, and the Marine Corps Birthday Ceremony. He was also the command’s choice to be the ‘‘Face of the Navy,” leading two clinics for more than 300 high school musicians visiting from Florida and California. He mentored the young musicians on musical elements and performance techniques.

Borrelli-Boudreau concluded each engagement with a tour of the Naval Academy and a discussion on Navy music, the mission of the Naval Academy Band, and the mission of the Naval Academy. He received glowing accolades from students and teachers for these perfectly executed events.