Awards

Historic Naval Ships Association Awards

*There were no awards given in 2020 because there was no conference

Casper J. Knight, Jr. Award

This award is named in honor of one of the founders of the Association, and former director of the cruiser USS Olympia, Casper J. “Cappy” Knight. It is the highest award the Association can bestow. It is given to individuals or organizations who have contributed in a major way, usually over a considerable length of time, to the preservation and exhibition of historic naval ships, and to the goals and work of the Association. Recipients:

1984 R. T. E. Bowler, Jr., U.S. Naval Institute
1986 Robert P. Brewer, U.S. Naval Institute
1987 Henry A. Vadnais, Jr., Naval Historical Center
1988 Cassie Johnson and her Fifth Grade Class at Millsap Elementary School, Cypress, Texas
1989 Charles Cart, Naval Sea Systems Command
1991 Paul S. Vaitses, Jr., USS Massachusetts Memorial
1992 Richard E. Beck, Buffalo Naval Park
1993 James W. Cheevers, U.S. Naval Academy Museum
1994 Naval History Magazine, U.S. Naval Institute
1995 Tin Can Sailors, Inc.
1996 Michael J. Ripton, U.S. Brig Niagara
1997 Naval Historical Center
1997 Strafford Morss, Morss Ship Restoration
1998 Timothy C. Rizzuto, USS Kidd and USS Slater
1998 Senator Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho
1999 Robert H. Eaton, U.S. Brig Niagara
2000 Frans H. Boetes, Hr Ms Mercuur
2000 Paul G. Spampanato, Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
2001 Paul J. Lapinski, Kollmorgen Instruments
2002 William P. Galvani, Naval Undersea Museum
2003 Norman M. Cary, Jr., Naval Historical Center
2003 Channing M. Zucker, Historic Naval Ships Association
2004 H. Maury Drummond, USS Kidd Veterans Memorial
2005 Peter Papadakos, Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation
2006 David R. Scheu, Jr., Battleship North Carolina
2007 Gloria Carvalho, Ship Donation Program, Naval Sea Systems Command
2008 Monitor National Marine Sanctuary, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
2008 Robert Walters, Battleship New Jersey
2009 Daniel J. DelMonte Jr., USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park
2009 Richard S. Pekelney, USS Pampanito and HNSA Web Master
2010 John C. Fakan, PhD., USS Cod
2011 Matt Woods, USS Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
2012 Robert S. Edington, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial
2012 Overfalls Foundation
2013 Col Patrick J. Cunningham, Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park
2014 Frank V. Thompson, Deputy Assistant Director for Museums and Collections, Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington Navy Yard
2014 Robert Jornlin, Commanding Officer, USS LST 325, Evansville, IN
2015 Cdr Hans Borti Salvesen, Royal Norwegian Navy
2015 LCdr Svein Olav Mogan, Royal Norwegian Navy
2015 Capt Edward J.  Kelly, RCN (Ret.), Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
2015 McKinney Towing, Inc., USS Kidd
2015 Ed Zajkowski, USS Slater
2016 Steve Owen, USS Hoga, Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum

2016 M. Charles “Rusty” Reustle, USS Lexington Museum
2017 Daniel Weikel, USS LST 393 Veterans Museum
2017 Captain Frank W. “Rocco” Montesano, USN (Ret.) USS Lexington
2017 Joseph H. Feitelberg, USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee
2018 Save the PT Boat, Inc.
2022 Les Lancaster, Battleship Missouri Memorial
2023 Charles Hinman, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum   
2024 Lindsey Shaw

William J. Diffley Award

This award is named in honor of the former executive director of the USS ALABAMA Commission and former president of HNSA, Captain Bill Diffley. It honors departing directors of HNSA Fleet Member organizations who have contributed in some great measure to the success of their museums. Recipients:

1991 CDR Max Corkum, HMCS Sackville
1991 CAPT Frank S. Conlon, USS North Carolina
1992 Henry Lingenfelder, Baltimore Maritime Museum
1993 Henry A. Vadnais, Jr., Supporter of Ship Directors
1994 Charles G. Waldrop, Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum
1995 CDR Richard B. Amirault, USS Constitution
1995 LTCDR James M. Bond, HMCS Sackville
1995 CAPT James F. Gavin, USS Massachusetts and Tin Can Sailors, Inc.
1995 Burt Logan, Wisconsin Maritime Museum with USS Cobia
1995 LTCDR Darrell W. Tworzyanski, USS Nautilus
1996 Jennifer Hevell, Baltimore Maritime Museum
1996 Marci Hooper, SS Jeremiah O’Brien
1996 Leonard A. Schmidt, USS Constellation
1996 CDR Robert A. Willson, HMCS Haida
1997 CDR Michael C. Beck, USS Constitution
1997 Russell A. Booth, USS Pampanito (posthumously)
1997 Herbert L. Georgius, USS Ling
1997 Lawrence Sowinski, Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
1998 LTCDR Terence Henn, USS Nautilus
1999 CAPT Guy A. Archambault, USS Massachusetts
1999 CAPT Richard R. Clark, USS Pampanito
1999 CAPT Harvey Gray, Jr. USS Bowfin
1999 Carla Morse, HMCS Haida
1999 LCDR Sherry J. Y. Richardson, HMCS Sackville
2000 RADMl James H. Flatley III, Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum
2001 Commander William F. Foster, Jr., USS Constitution
2002 Kathy L. Lohan, San Francisco Maritime National Park
2002 CAPT Brian H. Hope, SS John W. Brown
2003 CAPT Ivan T. Luke, Jr., USCGC Eagle
2003 Christopher Bach, USS Pampanito
2004 RADM Thomas U. Seigenthaler, USS New Jersey
2005 BMC Tracy L. Longbons, USS Barry

2006 RADM Aristotelis Dimitsas, HN, Armored Cruiser Georgios Averof
2008 LTCDR John Scivier RN, CO HMS Victory
2010 CAPT John Casey, USNR (Ret), Battleship Massachusetts Memorial
2010 Bradley King, HMS Belfast
2011 Jim Sergeant, USS Albacore
2013 H. Maury Drummond, USS Kidd Veterans Memorial
2013 Norma Bishop, Wisconsin Maritime Museum
2014 Richard Doughty, Cutty Sark, Greenwich, England
2014 Kenneth Jones, RN (Ret.)
2014 Robert Jornlin, Commanding Officer, USS LST 325, Evansville, IN
2015 CDR Wendall Brown, RCN (Ret.)
2016 Elizabeth Alejandra “Alex” Juan, USS Kidd Veterans Museum
2016 CAPT Jerry Hofwolt, USN (Ret.), USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park
2016 Jack James, USS Turner Joy

2016 William Tunnell, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial
2017 CAPT Frank W. “Rocco” Montesano, USN (Ret.), USS Lexington
2017 Dr. Kerry Anderson Crooks, Cavalla Historical Foundation
2017 CAPT Bryan Elson, RCN (Ret.), HMCS Sackville
2018 COL Kelley W. Crooks, USAF (Ret.), American Undersea Warfare Center
2019 CAPT Matthew Meistrup, USCGC Eagle
2019 Mac Burdette, Patriot’s Point
2023 CAPT Terry Bragg, USN (Ret.), USS North Carolina

2023 RADM John "Mac" McLoughlin USN (Ret.), USS Midway 

Russell Booth Award

This award, for outstanding achievement for a period of about one year, was re-named in 1997 in honor of the late Russ Booth, ship manager of USS Pampanito. Recipients:

1993 J. Candace Clifford, National Park Service
1993 Arthur and Patricia Edwards, SS John W. Brown
1993 Gail Fuller, U.S. Coast Guard
1993 Charles and Susan Jones, Historic Naval Ships Association volunteers
1993 Robert H. Eaton, U.S. Brig Niagara
1994 Paul C. Farace, USS Cod
1994 Timothy C. Rizzuto, USS Kidd
1995 Paul C. Farace, USS Cod
1995 Charles and Susan Jones, Historic Naval Ships Association volunteers
1995 Samir Latif, Historic Naval Ships Association volunteer
1995 Donald Struhar, Historic Naval Ships Association volunteer
1996 Frank V. Thompson, U.S. Naval Historical Center
1997 Richard S. Pekelney, USS Pampanito
1998 Hallie Brooker, National Park Service
1998 Robert Crawford, Maritime Museum of San Diego
1998 Anne E. McCarthy, Historic Naval Ships Association volunteer
1999 Anne E. McCarthy, Historic Naval Ships Association volunteer
1999 Shirley and Marvin Mortens, USS Massachusetts
1999 Pamela J. Overmann, Historic Naval Ships Association volunteer
1999 Christine Pasternak, USS Massachusetts
1999 Margaret A. Renn, Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
2000 Robert D. Board, JABCO, Inc.
2000 Frank V. Thompson, Naval Historical Center
2001 James A. Flanders, HNSA submarine fleet
2001 Dale A. Marsh, USS Missouri
2001 Stephen O’Neal, Education Council for Space Age Technology
2003 Anthony Finocchio, USS Becuna
2003 Harry and Shirley Jaeger, USCGC Tamaroa
2003 Jesse Lebovics, Independence Seaport Museum
2003 Barre L. McGowen, USS Batfish
2003 Carl Vozniak, USS Becuna
2004 Cdr Robert A. Willson, Historic Naval Ships Association Volunteer
2005 Henry Venetta, World War II Vehicle Museum and Learning Center
2006 Robert Mack, Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation
2006 Michael Whicker, USS LST Ship Memorial
2007 Stanley L. Bryn, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
2007 Dennis Gilbert, USS Batfish, Muskogee War Memorial Park
2008 Technology Department, South Colonie High School, Colonie, NY
2009 Tom Robinson, Zuni Maritime Foundation
2010 Thomas Banit, PhD, USS New Jersey
2011 Scott McGaugh, USS Midway Museum
2011 Richard Angelini, USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.
2012 Mrs. Cindy Sandine, Collection Management, Naval Undersea Museum
2012 John Duefrane, Collection Management, Naval Undersea Museum
2013 Brian Baublitz, USCGC Taney
2013 Alan Winkler, USS Cod Submarine Memorial
2013 Jason Hall, Battleship New Jersey
2013 Toby Oothoudt, USS Cod Submarine Memorial
2015 Bethany Piavis, Puget Sound Naval Museum
2015 Gunnery Sergeant Hector Esparza, USMC (Ret.)
2016 Harold H. Vlist, Puget Sound Navy Museum
2016 Maria Renzelli, USS Requin
2017 Robert D. and Nancy Board, Empower Your Image
2017 Patty Everly, USS Requin
2018 Steve Boerner, Puget Sound Naval Museum
2022 Texas Dreadnoughts Hockey Team
2023 Shanna Schuster, USS Slater
2024 Starla Shuck, USS Lexington

Henry A. Vadnais, Jr. Award

This award is named in honor of the late Henry Vadnais, former Head of the Curator Branch at the Naval Historical Center, and long-time supporter of HNSA. It is awarded to a staff person at a Fleet Member organization for particularly outstanding service rendered to his or her organization. Preference shall be given to persons working in the areas of curatorship, collections management, exhibits or registration. Recipients:

1998 Aldona M. Sendzikas, USS Bowfin
1999 Robert Holcombe, Port Columbus Civil War Naval Center
1999 Barbara W. Moe, Naval Undersea Museum
1999 Dr. C. Edward Poirer, USS Massachusetts
1999 Kim Robinson Sincox, USS North Carolina
2000 Dr. Norman M. Cary, Jr., Naval Historical Center
2000 Ronald W. Roehmholdt, Naval Undersea Museum
2001 Paul C. Farace, USS Cod
2002 Michael E. Thompson, USS Alabama
2003 Gene McClelland, Naval Undersea Museum
2005 Scott Kodger, USS New Jersey
2005 Patricia Perrella, USS Slater
2006 Mary Ames Sheret, USS North Carolina
2006 Frank V. Thompson, Naval Historical Center
2008 Stephanie Walsh, Director, Curatorial Affairs, USS New Jersey
2009 Master Chief Thomas Helvig, USN (Ret)., USS New Jersey
2010 Britta Arendt, Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
2010 Robert Kiihne, USS Constitution Museum
2011 Dennis Levitt, USS New Jersey
2011 Gerald Hanley, The Mariners’ Museum
2011 Michael Weidenbach, USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.
2012 Roy D. Dollard, Volunteer, USS Massachusetts Memorial
2012 Karen Duvalle, Curator, USS Cobia
2012 Lorraine Scott, Collections Manager, Naval Undersea Museum
2012 Leslie Watson, Registrar, USS New Jersey
2013 Mary Ryan, Naval Undersea Museum
2013 Jennifer Heinzelman, Naval Undersea Museum
2014 Ryan Szimanski, Museum Technician, Historic Ships, Baltimore, MD
2015 Jessica Williams, Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
2015 Linda Ayers, Battleship Iowa
2015 Tim NesSmith, USS Kidd Veterans Museum
2016 DeWayne Davis, USS Cavalla
2016 Jarrod Gahr, Naval Undersea Museum and Puget Sound Navy Museum
2016 Charels R. Gunderson, Naval Undersea Museum
2016 Ann Stegina, USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
2016 Kurt VanderMuellin, Battleship Iowa
2017 Katherine Young, Puget Sound Naval Museum
2018 Nancy Richards, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
2018 Shea McLean, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
2019 Leo Goulet, USS Alabama; Bill Galvani, HNSA  
2022 Evan Cerne-Iannone, USS Cod Submarine Memorial
2023 Shane Stephenson, Buffalo Naval Park
2023 Franklin Clay, Battleship Missouri Memorial
2024 Melanie Templin, USS Lexington

HNSA Educator Award

This award recognizes a Fleet Member staff member who has performed at a superior level in furthering the education program of the organization. Recipients:

1999 Joyce Jensen, Naval Undersea Museum
2000 Margaret A. Renn, Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
2000 Colonel Michael J. Stenzel, USS Slater
2001 Dana R. Schaar, Wisconsin Maritime Museum
2002 Dr. William E. Anderson, USS Salem
2005 Jaclyn Stewart, Independence Seaport Museum
2007 Ngaire Bushell and Emma Wilcox, HMS Belfast
2008 Laura Hockensmith, Naval Historical Center
2008 Claire Jordan, Learning and Development Officer, HMS Victory
2009 John Peters, USS Wisconsin, Hampton Roads Naval Museum
2010 USS New Jersey Overnight Encampment Crew, USS New Jersey
2010 Sheri Levinsky-Raskin, Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
2011 Miranda Appelbaum, Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
2011 Sara Hanscom, USS Midway Museum
2011 Dan Parsons, USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.
2012 Karen Hill, U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
2013 Carolyn Lane, Puget Sound Navy Museum
2014 Barry Herlihy, Training Manager, Pacific Battleship Center, San Pedro, CA
2015 Bert Walker, HMCS Sackville
2015 Tom Barry, USS Intrepid Sea, Air, Space Museum
2015 Josh Stutz, USS Iowa
2015 John Kieft, USS Turner Joy
2016 Valerie Johnson, Navy Museum Systems, Northwest
2016 Carolyn Lane, Navy Museum Systems, Northwest
2016 Lt. Dennis May, RCN (Ret’d), The Canadian Memorial Trust
2016 CPO1 Graham McBride, RCN (Ret’d.) Canadian Naval Memorial Trust
2016 Mike Murtaugh, USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
2016 Tim NesSmith, USS Kidd Veterans Museum
2016 David Suhs, The Battleship Missouri Memorial
2017 Kyle Day, SS Jeremiah O’Brien
2017 Aubrey Flaherty, American Undersea Warfare Center
2017 Bill Gard, HMCS Sackville
2018 Leading Seaman Steve Rowland, RCN (Ret’d.), Canadian Naval Memorial Trust
2019 Raymond Hamel, USS Cairo
2022 Shanna Schuster, USS Slater
2022 Neil Yamamoto, Battleship Missouri Memorial
2023
Jonathan Milard, USS Intrepid 
2023 Travis Pickens, USS Lexington 
2024 Stephen Tedesco, Buffalo Military Park 
 

Bos’n Marvin Curry Award

This award is named in honor of Chief Marvin Curry who managed the maintenance and preservation of the ships at Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park for many years. It is awarded to a staff person of a Fleet Member organization for exceptional service for at least a five-year period in the areas of interpretation, maintenance, preservation and restoration. Preference shall be given too a non-salaried employee or volunteer. The recipient should have consistently demonstrated competency in his or her field, a commitment to excellence and a strong love for the Fleet Member’s ship(s). One award will be made annually. A master plaque listing annual recipients will be on display at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park who sponsors this award. Further, in the event there are multiple nominees, the final decision as to who will be the recipient is made by the Executive Director of the Buffalo & Erie Naval & Military Park. Recipients:

1998 Christopher Nardi, USS Massachusetts
1999 Jerry Proc, HMCS Haida
2000 Marvin Wong, USS Pampanito
2001 DeLacy L. Cook, SS John W. Brown
2003 Henry Overlock, Jr., USS Cassin Young
2004 Richard H. Smith, USS Slater
2005 Richard Reading, Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park
2006 Maurice Croteau, USS Massachusetts Memorial
2007 Owen Hayes, USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., USS Massachusetts Memorial
2008 “Diesel” Dave Smith, USS Cod Submarine Memorial
2009 Michael Angelini, USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Battleship Cove
2010 Jess Majewski, Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park
2011 Chuck Oakes, Overfalls Foundation
2012 George Buckingham, HMAS Diamantina, Queensland Maritime Museum
2013 Thomas Isula, Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park
2014 Garrett C. Lynch, Volunteer, USS Kidd, Baton Rouge, LA
2015 Frank “Beef” Lewis, USS Kidd Veterans Museum
2016 John Gerten, USS Turner Joy
2016 Wallace B. “Mac” Mackesen, USS Kidd Veterans Museum
2017 Michael J. Kegley, USS Edson
2018 ENC Mac Christy, USN (Ret.), American Undersea Warfare Center
2019 Joe Cutty, Buffalo Park; Bob Perlewitz, Door County Maritime Museum; Chip Dobson, USS Alabama
2022 Greg Blasquez, SS Red Oak Victory
2022 Richard Obratil, USS Cod Submarine Memorial
2023 Ernie Trevino, USS Lexington 
2024 Nathan Bergeron, USS Kidd

Historic Naval Ship Maintenance/Preservation/Exhibition Award

This award is for a Fleet Member staff or volunteer person who has provided exemplary work on a daily or part time toward the long term maintenance and preservation of a historic naval vessel and/or toward the proper exhibition of that vessel to the general public. Each nomination must be submitted by or endorsed by the manager or director of said vessel. Recipients:

2004 BMC Tracy L. Longbons of the Display ship USS Barry
2004 Mario Libardoni of the Destroyer USS Cassin Young
2004 Vaughn Newkirk of the submarine USS Batfish
2005 PO First Class Kenyon Zitzka, Display Ship Barry
2006 Frederick Carneau, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
2006 Robert Walters, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
2006 Edward Zajkowski, USS Massachusetts Memorial
2007 Tom Bower, USS Drum, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
2008 Nick Vaginos, Patuxent River Naval Air Museum
2009 Baltimore Crew, Zuni Maritime Foundation
2009 Brass Team, USS New Jersey
2009 Al Lundgren, USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Battleship Cove
2009 Pawel Mankowski, National Vietnam War Memorial
2009 Bob Perlewitz, Door County Maritime Museum
2010 William Douglas Tanner, USS Slater
2010 Lesley Waters, USS Drum
2010 Anthony Fernandez, Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
2011 John Anderson, USS Bowfin
2011 Mark W. Allen, USS Batfish
2011 Battleship New Jersey Restoration Volunteers, USS New Jersey
2011 Bill Reader, Ligthship Overfalls
2011 Dina Ingersole, Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
2011 Andy Curran, HMS Belfast
2011 Charles Gordon, USS Midway Museum
2012 Christine Finlay, Fleet Shipkeeper, Australian Maritime Museum
2012 Rich Nabuda, Chief Electrician, USS Hornet Museum
2012 Radio Club, USS New Jersey
2012 Jim Wakefield, Volunteer, Albacore Park
2013 Danelle Feddes, Puget Sound Navy Museum
2013 Michael Getscher, Pacific Battleship Center
2013 Battleship New Jersey Gun Crew, Battleship New Jersey
2013 Darrel Flint, USS Cod Submarine Memorial
2013 James “Jimmy” Miller, USS New Jersey
2013 Lcdr. James Mulvihill, Battleship Cove
2014 Steve Briand, Nat. Park Service Volunteer, USS Casson Young, Charlestown Navy Yard, MA
2014 Marta Joiner, Exhibits Specialist, Hampton Roads Naval Museum and USS Wisconsin
2014 Paul Rutherford, Bldg/Grounds Superintendent, Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI
2014 George Seal, Volunteer, USS Kidd, Baton Rouge, LA
2014 Louis Vertosnik, Crew, USS Cod Memorial, Cleveland, OH
2015 Aaron Reznick, USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.
2015 Stan Sato, Battleship Iowa
2015 Cdr Sten Hecker, Royal Swedish Navy (Dep.), RSwN Torpedo Boat T121 Spica
2015 Daniel Zerbe, USS Turner Joy.
2015 Richard E. Ammon, Jr., USS Kidd Veterans Museum
2016 Russ Collins, USS Cobia
2016 Dr. Kerry Crooks, USS Cavalla Foundation
2016 Pat Habel, USS Cobia
2016 Tom Lowney Battleship Cove
2016 Lt. Don Mackie, RCN (Ret’d) HMCS Sackville
2016 Charlie Pyle, USS Lucid
2016 Leo Root, USS Lexington Museum
2016 Henry J. “Hank” Taddeucci, USS Kidd Veterans Museum
2016 Phil Waters, USS Cobia
2017 Jon Eaton and David Winter, SS Jeremiah O’Brien
2017 Michael McGee, USS Kidd
2017 Megan Churchwell, Puget Sound Naval Museum
2017 Eddie Kirkwood, Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park
2017 David Bradley, Maritime Museum of San Diego
2017 Jack Frost, USS Lucid
2017 Paul Kraynek, USS Cobia
2017 Tony Martinez-Barron, American Undersea Warfare Center
2018 Steven Ponte, Battleship Cove
2018 Joe V. Peterson, Comanche 202 Foundation
2018 Lee Bryars, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
2019 Patrick Devenish, Canadian Naval Memorial Trust; Chris Nardi, Battleship Cove (nominated for his volunteerism on USS Alabama); Frank Lydell, Silversides Submarine Museum; Mark Fazakerley, Silversides Submarine Museum
2022 Gary Sheedy, USS Slater
2022 Chris Malanson, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
2023 Chief Mario Roy, USCG (Ret.), Buffalo Naval Park 
2023 Fred Enters, USS Kidd

2024 Wednesday Restoration Crew, USS North Carolina
2024 Timothy Riley, Friends of USS Cassin Young
 

Dr. John C. Fakan Communications Award

This award is named in honor of the former President of the USS Cod Submarine Memorial and Chairman of the Communications Committee of the Historic Naval Ships Association. The award recognizes an individual, be it an employee of, or a volunteer at a museum, who has contributed his or her skills and knowledge in furthering and facilitating electronic communication and collaboration between member ships and museums. Also, this award recognizes the creative use of electronic communication in the area of marketing one’s museum to individuals, organizations and companies outside the HNSA network. Recipients:

2012 Richard S. Pekelney, USS Pampanito, HNSA Webmaster
2014 James Popovic, Crew, USS Cod Memorial, Cleveland, OH
2015 LCdr Patricia Jessup, RCN (Ret.), HMCS Sackville
2015 David Canfield, Battleship Iowa
2016 Matthew Eng, Naval Historical Foundation
2016 Tom Aschenbrenner, USS Cobia
2016 Cdr Bryan Lethcoe, USN (Ret.), USS Cavalla
2017 Cristoff Shay, Battleship Cove
2018 Rhonda Davis, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
2019 Urs Schmidt, Cavalla Historical Foundation 
2022 Libby Jones, Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial
2023 Warren D. "Buzz" Smith, Friends of USS Cassin Young 
2024 Evan Cerne-Iannone, USS Cod
 

President’s Special Award

2000 James W. Cheevers, HNSA Executive Secretary
2000 Dr. John C. Fakan, USS Cod
2000 Anne E. McCarthy, Editor, Anchor Watch newsletter
2000 Richard S. Pekelney, USS Pampanito, HNSA Web Site Manager
2002 John A. McMichael, USS Cavalla and USS Stewart
2002 Jim Brewer and Margaret Mathers, HMCS Haida
2002 Ludwig J. Donofrio, USS Massachusetts
2007 James B. Sergeant, USS Albacore
2013 Karin Hill, Naval History and Heritage Command
2016 Patty Everly, USS Requin and HNSA President
2017 RADM John P. “Mac” McLaughlin, USN, (Ret.), USS Midway
2018 CAPT Channing M. Zucker, USN (Ret.), HNSA Treasurer
2019 Mike Morin, Cavalla Historical Foundation
2021 Tony Oothoudt, USS Cod Submarine Memorial
2022 John Elliker, HNSA
2023
Vanessa Lewis, Reporting Maven
2023 CAPT Chuck Merkel USN (Ret.), USS Bowfin & Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
2024 Jeffery Barta, Naval History and Heritage Command
2024 Frank Thompson, Naval History and Heritage Command

International Leadership Award

This award is presented to an individual, who may be either a HNSA member or non-member, who has been instrumental in promoting and strengthening the Historic Naval Ships Association’s role as an International organization dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and display of historic ships as museums. The award recognizes that the nominee has brought international awareness to the Association that is focused on preservation and the education of the public at large of the historic importance of these ships and maritime museums. In terms of restoration and preservation, this may mean that the nominee has developed a revolutionary technique or method that has been shared with the HNSA members. Recipients:

2006 Brad King, HMS Belfast
2007 LCDR Sherry J. Richardson, RCN, HMCS Sackville
2013 Lindsey Shaw, Australian National Maritime Museum
2013 LCDR Sherry J. Richardson, RCN, HMCS Sackville
2022 Drachinifel, Thundersdawn Ltd.

Old Walrus Award

This award is given for demonstrated knowledge of the Historic Naval Ship Fleet. It is competed for each year by delegates at the annual Historic Naval Ships Association conference. Recipients:

1993 H. Maury Drummond, USS Kidd Veterans Memorial
1994 Jennifer Hevell, Baltimore Maritime Museum
1995 Kathleen A. Devine, USS Salem
1996 Colonel Jerry Chipman, USS Lexington
1997 Michael J. Ripton, U.S. Brig Niagara
1998 Paul C. Farace, USS Cod
1999 James B. Sergeant, USS Albacore
2000 Margaret A. Renn, USS Massachusetts Memorial
2001 Captain Lawrence M. Jones, Jr., Naval Sea Systems Command
2002 Lieutenant Commander Sherry J. Y. Richardson, HMCS Sackville
2003 Captain Channing M. Zucker, Historic Naval Ships Association
2004 Joseph W. Lombardi, Ocean Technical Services
2005 Guy Archambault
2006 Mac McLaughlin, USS Midway Museum
2007 Brad King, HMS Belfast
2008 Andy Smith, USS Texas
2009 Terry Bragg, USS North Carolina
2010 Nancy Richards, USS Bowfin
2011 Lindsey Shaw, Australian National Maritime Museum
2012 Frank Thompson, U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
2013 Frank Thompson, U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
2014 William B. Cogar, HNSA Trustee
2016 Tim NesSmith, USS Kidd Veterans Memorial
2017 Ryan Szimanski, Historic Ships in Baltimore
2018 Karen Duvalle, Wisconsin Maritime Museum
2019 Janet Cobb, USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
2021 Michael Carr, Battleship Missouri Memorial
2022 Tim Rizzuto, USS Slater
2023 Len Santiago, USS Midway
2024 Shane Stephenson, Buffalo Naval Park
 

Conference Scholarship

This award is given to emerging museum professionals to help them grow, learn, and make contacts in the field. Other organizations sponsor them by helping fund their conference fees. Recipients:

2021 Ashley Elieff, SS Red Oak Victory, sponsored by USS Bowfin & Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
2021 James Flood, LST 393 Veterans Museum, sponsored by Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial
2022 Karen Duvalle, Wisconsin Maritime Museum, sponsored by USS Bowfin & Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
2022 Evan Cerne-Iannone, USS Cod Submarine Memorial, sponsored by USS Lexington Museum
2022 Aaron Prendergast, United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum & USS Salem, sponsored by USS Midway Museum
2022 Michael Voss, USS Bowfin & Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, sponsored by Battleship Missouri Memorial
2023 Jonathan Leung, USS Blueback, sponsored by
USS Bowfin & Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
2023 Joe Angiulo, USS Hornet, sponsored by USS Midway 
2023 Ivan Pankov, HNSA, sponsored by USS Bowfin & Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
2023 Robert Cranmer, Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial, sponsored by USS Lexington
2023 Steven Tedesco, Buffalo Naval Park, sponsored by USS Lexington
2024 Brendan Lindahl, Buffalo Naval Park, sponsored by USS Bowfin & Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
2024 Karen Voit, Buffalo Naval Park, sponsored by USS Lexington
2024 Elizabeth Rekowski, University of Maryland, sponsored by USS Bowfin & Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
2024 Natalie Leighton, USS Hornet, sponsored by USS Lexington
2024 Aaron Prendergast, United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum & USS Salem, sponsored by USS Bowfin & Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
 

Career Excellence Award
2021 Bill Cogar, Former HNSA Executive Director

For further information concerning the Historic Naval Ships Association awards program and procedures for submitting award nominations, contact the association’s executive director at [email protected] or phone (866) 877-6262, ext 202.