VADM Charles A. Lockwood Award
Established in 1986, the Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood Award for Submarine Professional Excellence recognizes individuals (Active or Reserve) for achievement, contribution, specific action or consistent performance, which best exemplifies the traditional spirit embodied in the Submarine Force.
2023 Awardee: LT Jennifer R. Hedgecoth, USN
for outstanding performance as Assistant Engineer on USS GEORGIA (SSGN 729)(BLUE).
Lieutenant Hedgecoth acted as the Engineer after an unplanned loss. She led the engineering department and the ship during Georgia’s Major Maintenance Period (MMP). Her leadership was instrumental in a successful drydocking, the implementation of major ship system upgrades, and the performance of multiple reactor maintenance tasks. Her dedication to the engineering department and the ship assured that Georgia completed the MMP on time. In addition, she was the key factor in training engineering watch teams and inexperienced junior officers. Her efforts had a direct result in a marked improvement in the ship’s performance. The success in the latest Reactor Safeguards Examination, with several areas above fleet standards, can be directly attributed to her leadership. She exhibits a true warfighting spirit. As an Officer of the Deck during recent operations in support of national tasking and complex naval exercises, she exhibited superior tactical abilities which elevated her watch team’s proficiency and capabilities for mission execution. She is a leader in the wardroom and inserts herself to ensure the crew understands priorities and the need for mission accomplishment.
Lieutenant Hedgecoth is most deserving of recognition by the Naval Submarine League to receive the Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood Award for Submarine Professional Excellence.
Previous Awardees
2023 |
LT Jennifer R. Hedgecoth, USN |
2020 |
LCDR Kristin L. Shaw, USN |
2017 |
LCDR Matthew S. Thatcher, USN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 |
LCDR Erin D. Gelhausen, USN |
2019 |
LCDR Vance R. Beatty, USN |
2016 |
LCDR Nathan D. Luther, USN |
2021 |
LCDR Taylor N. Sheppard, USN |
2018 |
LCDR Alex Rinaldi, USN |
2015 |
LCDR Kenneth M. Kirkwood, USN |
Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, Jr.
Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, Jr. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1912, Charles Lockwood served in the battleships Mississippi and Arkansas. Subsequently, he served in ten surface ships, commanding four; commanded eight submarines; and had command of two submarine divisions.
In April 1942, Vice Admiral Lockwood was assigned as Commander of Submarines, Southwest Pacific. In February 1943, he became Commander, Submarines, U.S. Pacific Fleet. As COMSUBPAC, he was responsible for planning and executing the submarine war against the Imperial Japanese Empire. This responsibility he carried out to perfection, culminating in U.S. submarines penetrating Japanese home waters in the Sea of Japan. As an astute tactician and truly professional naval officer, his service and accomplishments were recognized time and again in the form of medals and citations.
Extracts from selected citations are included here as examples of Vice Admiral Lockwood's service to his country and the Allied Forces:
"For exceptionally meritorious service… as Commander Submarines, Southwest Pacific… (he) served with distinction during a period when Japanese air and sea power was at its height. A daring, forceful and inspiring leader, he directed the operations of his forces aggressively in carrying the attack to the enemy with the result that the submarines under his command sank 58 enemy ships and damaged 41 others..."
"For exceptionally meritorious conduct… he initiated an experimental MK 14 Torpedo Test program… the increased efficiency resulted in increased tonnage of enemy ships sunk and this in turn has improved the confidence of the officers and enlisted men of the submarine force."
"... he brought his gallant command to the peak of combat efficiency in support of the Allied offensive against Iwo Jima and Okinawa... contributed materially to the success of our sustained drive to force the capitulation of the Japanese Empire..."