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.
2024 Awardee: LTJG Jacob F. Klosowski, USN
for outstanding performance as Assistant Engineer on USS TOPEKA (SSN 754).
LTJG Klosowski is a rising star in the submarine force. During TOPEKA’s 2023 INDOPACOM deployment he voluntarily developed an intelligence computer program (PYTHON Script) which significantly reduced the time required to ingest off hull intelligence into the ship’s fire control system. This program greatly assisted TOPEKA on deployment and is now provided to all deployed submarines via their mission support kit. As Assistant Engineer he directed improvements in the Reactor Laboratories Division which contributed to improved performance on a Fleet Engineering Examination. He has established a high standard of performance within the ship which causes the officers and chief petty officers to look to him as the example of the right way to do business. He has had more success in reenlisting crew members than any other officer on board. He sets high standards and performs at the highest levels in the execution of all his duties. The crew draws energy from his unrelenting warfighting ethos and is constantly following his lead.
LTJG Klosowski 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
2022
LCDR Erin D. Gehlhausen, USN
2021
LCDR Taylor N. Sheppard, USN
2020
LCDR Kristin L. Shaw, USN
2019
LCDR Vance R. Beatty, USN
2018
LCDR Vance R. Beatty, USN
2017
LCDR Alex Rinaldi, USN
2016
LCDR Matthew S. Thatcher, USN
2015
LCDR Nathan D. Luther, 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..."