R 212025Z NOV 19
MARADMIN 645/19
MSGID/CMC DCI WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2020 MARINE CORPS ASSOCIATION & FOUNDATION (MCAF) INFORMATION AWARDS DINNER//
POC/MISTY N. COOK/MAJ/DC I ADMIN OFFICER/EMAIL: MISTY.COOK@USMC.MIL/TEL: 703-693-8691//
POC/PATRICK J. MURPHY/CAPT/DC I STAFF OFFICER/EMAIL: PATRICK.J.MURPHY@USMC.MIL/TEL: 703-692-4701//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  The purpose of this message is to announce the Marine Corps Association and Foundation (MCAF) Information Awards dinner.  The Marine Corps Intelligence and Communications communities have a strong and proud legacy of providing essential warfighting support to the MAGTF.  That legacy and their significant accomplishments have been celebrated annually with the support of the Marine Corps Association in the Intelligence and C4 Awards dinners.  In the years to come, our Marine Corps must build on the strong organizational cultures of the Intelligence and C4 communities as we mature Information as a warfighting function.  More and more, it will be the integration of Intelligence, C4, Cyber, Psychological Operations, Communication Strategy, Space, Electronic Warfare, and Civil Affairs that will provide essential understanding, warfighting capability, and effects for commanders throughout the competition continuum.  In that vein, it is important that we begin to recognize together all the Information communities, their significant accomplishments in this time of change, and their innovative spirit in this new era of Great Power Competition.  In that spirit, the April MCAF Awards Dinner will recognize award recipients from across the Marine Corps Information Environment Enterprise.  The fall MCAF dinner previously reserved for Intelligence Award will be rescheduled as an Information Professional Military Education (PME) panel and dinner.
2.  Location.  The awards dinner will be held on 23 April 2020 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Richmond HWY, Arlington, VA 22202.  A no host cocktail hour will begin at 1730, followed by the awards dinner from 1830-2030.  Dress is civilian informal (coat and tie) for attendees, service alphas with ribbons for speakers and award winners.  Tickets are 102.00 for non-MCAF members and 65.00 for members.  Active duty Marines may attend at no cost, but must contact LeeAnn Mitchell (MCAF) to register and receive free entrance to the dinner.  To register online and for driving directions visit the MCAF website at www.mca-marines.org and select programs/events, then upcoming events, or contact LeeAnn Mitchell at 703-640-0169 or l.mitchell@mca-marines.org.
3.  Discussion.  The following awards will be presented during the course of the dinner:
3.a.  Alfred M. Gray Trophy for Outstanding Communications Leadership honors a Marine Corps Captain for outstanding professionalism and leadership in advancing the Marine Corps communications mission.
3.b.  James Hamilton Information Technology Management Civilian Marine of the Year award recognizes a civilian Marine who performed special acts of noteworthy leadership and technological innovation to support his or her command in the area of information technology management.
3.c.  PFC Herbert A. Littleton Enlisted Communications award honors a Noncommissioned Officer for operational communications excellence, a Staff Noncommissioned Officer for operational communications excellence, a Noncommissioned Officer for electronics maintenance excellence and a Staff Noncommissioned Officer for electronics maintenance excellence.
3.d.  LtCol Kevin M. Shea Memorial Unit award recognizes a communications or information technology unit or organization within the OPFOR or supporting establishment that has distinguished itself by making the most outstanding contributions to the Marine Corps C4 field in the development or advancement of concepts, doctrine, technology, or procedures that improve Marine Corps C4, and/or has demonstrated continual resourcefulness and responsiveness while supporting the warfighter in a tactical, operational, or strategic environment.
3.e.  LtCol Michael D. Kuszewski Marine Corps Intelligence Officer of the Year award recognizes a Marine Officer for outstanding professionalism and leadership.
3.f.  MGySgt Samuel C. Plott Marine Corps Intelligence Staff Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award recognizes a SNCO for outstanding professionalism and leadership.
3.g.  MSgt Charles C. Arndt Marine Corps Intelligence Noncommissioned Officer of the Year award recognizes an NCO for outstanding professionalism and leadership.
3.h.  LCpl James E. Swain Marine Corps Intelligence Enlisted of the Year award recognizes an enlisted Marine for outstanding professionalism and leadership.
3.i.  John J. Guenther Marine Corps Intelligence Civilian of the Year award recognizes a civilian for outstanding professionalism and leadership.
3.j.  The Director of Intelligence Unit of the Year award recognizes the unit within the Marine Corps Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance enterprise (MCISRE) that made the most outstanding contributions in the development of advanced concepts, doctrine, technology, training, or procedures that improve the MCISRE and/or through demonstration of consistent resourcefulness and responsiveness while supporting the warfighter in a tactical, operational, or strategic environment.
3.k.  Four awards have been established to recognize Marines and civilians in the remaining disciplines that comprise Operations in the Information Environment (OIE).  These include Cyber, Psychological Operations, Civil Affairs, Communication Strategy, Space, and Electronic Warfare (EW).  The new awards will recognize an enlisted Marine, officer, civilian and unit organization that exhibited outstanding leadership and ground breaking initiatives that advanced and synchronized the employment of OIE.
3.l.  Two additional awards have been established to recognize innovation and technical leadership across the entire Marine Corps Information Environment Enterprise (MCIEE). 
4.  The guest of honor for this event will be announced in future correspondence by the Deputy Commandant for Information.
5.  This message self-cancels on 1 November 2020.
6.  Release authorized by LtGen L. E. Reynolds, U.S. Marine Corps, Deputy Commandant for Information.//