R 121451Z MAR 26
MARADMIN 101/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CD&I//
SUBJ/SOLICITATION FOR THE 2026 COMBAT DEVELOPMENT AND INTEGRATION
EXCELLENCE AWARDS//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/DECISION PAPER/YMD: 20200610// 
AMPN/REF A IS THE DECISION PAPER FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EWEA//
POC/E.B. CAYCHO/MSGT/CD&I, G-1/DSN 378-8030/
COM (703) 432-8030/EDUARDO.CAYCHO@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. In conjunction with the Expeditionary 
Warfare Excellence Awards (EWEA), the Deputy Commandant, Combat
Development and Integration (DC, CD&I), is pleased to solicit 
nominations for the annual Combat Development and Integration 
Excellence Awards (CDIEA). The CDIEA ceremony will take place at the 
2026 Marine Corps Association Combat Development Dinner on or around 
20 August 2026.   
1.a.  Inclusive dates for the awards are 1 January 2025 to 31 
December 2025. 
1.b.  The CDIEA features three awards:  
Innovator of the Year (E1-E7, O1-O3): a Marine who possesses a mindset
of continuous improvement, challenges the status quo to solve complex 
problems, and rapidly implements new ideas, technologies, or tactics 
to gain a competitive advantage on the battlefield. 
Capability Developer of the Year (Marine or Civilian): a Marine or 
Civilian that has exercised systematic, bottom-up process of 
enhancing a unit's or individuals’ ability to perform the mission
through training, experimentation, or new technology.  
Superior Analyst of the Year (Marines/Sailors/Civilians): A Marine, 
Sailor, or Civilian that used data-driven, and scientific methods 
(operations research, wargaming, modeling) to provide a decisive 
advantage in decision-making, force design, and warfighting 
capabilities. 
1.c. This awards program is applicable to the Active and
Reserve components of the United States Marine Corps and the United
States Navy.
1.d.  An awards board convened by CD&I will recommend eminently 
qualified packages for DC, CD&I approval.  The award winners will be
announced via MARADMIN.    
2. Action 
2.a.  Commands with personnel meeting the criteria are highly 
encouraged to submit nominations via the first O-6 in the chain of
command to the POC listed in this message.  
2.b.  Nomination packages must be received no later than 
15 May 2026.  Email nomination packages to CD&I G-1 personnel using
the following email address: eduardo.caycho@usmc.mil.   
2.c.  Nomination packages shall be sent electronically via email and
will include one file in Microsoft Word format and one file in 
Portable Document Format (PDF) per nominee.  The subject line should
read: “Calendar Year 2026 CDIEA ICO Rank/Name”, nomination packages 
will include the following:
2.c.1.  A nomination letter from the first O-6, at a minimum, in the
chain of command. 
2.c.2.  Unit point of contact to include phone number and email 
address. 
2.c.3.  Phone number and email address for each nominee.   
2.c.4.  A summary of performance that provides a concise resume of
qualifications, including the billet description and significant 
contributions, not to exceed two pages using 12-pitch courier new 
font.   
2.c.5.  A biography of the nominee.  
2.c.6.  A proposed citation not to exceed 10 typewritten lines using
12-pitch courier new font.   
3.  CD&I will fund travel for the individual awardee to attend
the Combat Development Dinner for the presentation of the award.
Every effort shall be made by local commanders to ensure the
presence of the awardee at the ceremony.  Individuals other than
the awardee who desire to attend must do so at their own expense. 
4.  Ensure widest dissemination of the contents of this message.   
5.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Eric E. Austin, Deputy
Commandant for Combat Development & Integration.//