CALL FOR USMC NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2025 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE  CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER ANNUAL AWARDS PROGRAM
Date Signed: 6/3/2025 | MARADMINS Number: 256/25
MARADMINS : 256/25

R 031550Z JUN 25
MARADMIN 256/25 
MSGID/MARADMIN/CMC DCI WASHINGTON DC// 
SUBJ/CALL FOR USMC NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2025 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER ANNUAL AWARDS PROGRAM// 
REF/A/LTR/DODCIO/6MAY2025// 
REF/B/DOC/DOD/13MAY2025// 
NARR/REF A IS THE MEMORANDUM FOR DOD CIO AWARDS PROGRAM 2025-CALL 
FOR NOMINATIONS. REF B IS THE DOD CIO AWARDS INSTRUCTIONS// 
POC/E.M. MARTINEZ/MSGT/DC I, IC4/EMAIL: ERICK.MARTINEZ@USMC.MIL/
TEL: 703-693-3464// 
POC/D. M. ROMO/MGYSGT/DC I, IC4/EMAIL: DENNIS.ROMO@USMC.MIL/TEL:
571-256-8893// 
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.   The Department of Defense (DoD) Chief 
Information Officer (CIO) Annual Awards program recognizes eligible
personnel, individually or in teams, for exceptional achievements 
within the DoD CIO portfolio of capabilities.  Component CIOs may 
submit up to ten nominations for outstanding achievements that 
contribute to mission success for the DoD Information Enterprise.     
2.  Award criteria.  Nominees must have made outstanding 
achievements between July 2024-June 2025 towards the goals and 
objectives of the DoD CIO, National Defense Strategy priorities and
the DoD Information Technology (IT) Advancement Strategy and 
objectives.  Such capabilities include: Cybersecurity; Information 
Enterprise; Command, Control and Communications (C3); Other 
functional areas such as Financial and Management Audits, IT & Cyber
Budget, Electronics Records Management, IT and Communications 
Accessibility (Section 508), IT and Cyber Workforce, Industry and 
International Engagements Support, and Tech Debt.  Nomination 
content requirements are contained in reference (a). 
3.  Eligibility.  Service members (Officers and enlisted) in the 
grade O-6 and below or DoD civilians GS-15 and below are eligible 
for nomination.  Contractors may be recognized as part of a team if
led by military or DoD civilian. 
4.  Nominations. 
4.a.  Nominations.  Qualified individuals and/or teams will be 
submitted via the first O-6 in the chain of command to the Service 
CIO, the Deputy Commandant for Information (DC I).  Additionally, 
the Comptroller or budget office must endorse any quantified cost 
savings or avoidance cited in the nomination. 
4.b.  Service CIO Nominations.  The DC I will review, approve, and 
submit up to ten individual and/or team nominations to the DoD CIO. 
4.c.  DoD CIO Selection.  Awardees will be selected from nominations
from the Military Services, Combatant/Joint Commands, Defense 
Agencies, Field Activities, and Principle Staff Assistants.  The DoD
CIO will review nominations and score the packages in accordance 
with the criteria set forth in reference (a).  The official DoD CIO
Winners Announcement listing all 2025 Awardees will be available on 
the DoD CIO web page and social media channels.  Additionally, the 
DoD CIO will provide the information to DoD Media Agency for use in 
an article that will be posted to Defense.gov.  
5.  Awards Presentation.  The DoD CIO Awards ceremony will be held 
in person in December 2025.  More details to follow. 
6.  Administration and Logistics 
6.a.  USMC nominations must contain all requested information and 
must be uploaded to:  https:(slash)(slash)usmc.sharepoint-mil.us/
sites/DCI/Awards/SitePages/Awards.aspx by COB 7 July 2025.  No fax 
or hard copy submissions will be accepted.  Due to the timeline, no 
extensions will be approved. 
6.b.  All nominations must be coordinated through the nominee’s 
chain-of-command for quality review and eligibility. 
6.c.  The references, nomination template, and further guidance can 
be found at the following website:  https:(slash)(slash)usmc.
sharepoint-mil.us/sites/DCI/Awards/SitePages/Awards.aspx. 
7.  Command and Signal 
7.a.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Total Force. 
7.b.  Ensure widest dissemination of this MARADMIN. 
7.c.  Questions regarding the DoD CIO Awards Program should be 
directed to the POCs listed in this MARADMIN. 
8.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General M. G. Carter, 
Headquarters Marine Corps, Deputy Commandant for Information.//