R 031830Z OCT 25
MARADMIN 472/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC DC I WASHINGTON DC// 
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2025 COPERNICUS AWARD NOMINATION// 
REF/A/MSGID: NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N2N6/15SEPT25// 
NARR/REF (A) IS THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 COPERNICUS AWARD NOMINATION.// 
POC 1/D. M. ROMO/MGYSGT/ DCI, IC4/EMAIL: DENNIS.ROMO@USMC.MIL/ 
TEL: 571-256-8893// 
POC 2/E.M. MARTINEZ/MSGT/DC I, IC4/ EMAIL: ERICK.MARTINEZ@USMC.MIL/ 
703-693-3464// 
POC 3/LUND/CIV/AFCEA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION/EMAIL:  
EDFOUNDATION(AT)AFCEA.ORG/TEL: 703-631-6147// 
GENTEX/REMARKS/1. Per reference (a) the Copernicus award recognizes
individual contributions to Naval Warfare in Command, Control,
Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (IC4), Information
Systems, Cyber Operations, and Information Warfare. The award is
sponsored by Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association
(AFCEA) international and the United States Naval Institute (USNI). 
2. Award criteria and eligibility. Fiscal Year 2025 nominees must  
have made a specific, demonstrable contribution to the advancement  
of IC4, Information Systems, or Cyber Operations. Contributions can  
be technical in nature, but may also originate from doctrinal,  
financial, organizational, or other dimensions of Information  
Systems. The contribution should involve exceptional initiative,  
leadership, and insight within the nominee area of expertise. All  
U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and civil service  
personnel are eligible for nomination. Up to 30 awardees will be  
selected. Each nominating command is limited to two nominees. No  
contractor or team (more than one person) nominations will be  
accepted. Nominations must be unclassified. 
3. Nominations and presentation. The awardees will be selected from  
nominations received from U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S.  
Coast Guard (including Joint/North Atlantic Treaty Organization)  
commands, afloat and ashore. Nominations must be on letterhead, be  
submitted by email in pdf format and must not contain any personally 
identifiable information. Nominations for Commanding Officers or  
Officers-In-Charge must be signed by their Immediate Superior in  
Command. Flag endorsements and letters of recommendation are neither 
required nor desired. The nomination template and additional  
nomination package information, as well as the most up-to-date point 
of contact information can be found at  
https://www.afcea.org/copernicus-award as well as award  
information. Nominations must be submitted via email no later than  
1 November 2025 to: edfoundation(at)afcea.org. Late nominations will 
not be considered. 
4. AFCEA International and USNI will make the final selections. The  
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare will  
announce the awardees via naval message. The annual Copernicus  
awards ceremony will be held at the AFCEA International/USNI West 
2026 Conference in San Diego, California at the San Diego convention 
center. 
5. Release authorized by Lieutenant General M. G. Carter, 
Headquarters Marine Corps, Deputy Commandant for Information.//