R 022034Z APR 26
MARADMIN 153/26 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC DC I WASHINGTON DC// 
SUBJ/SELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2025 MARINE
CORPS ASSOCIATION INFORMATION AWARDS//
REF/A/MSGID: MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC I/YMD: 20260327//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 546/25
SOLICITATION FOR THE MARINE CORPS ASSOCIATION INFORMATION AWARDS
FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025// POC 1/JOSE R. VALLE/MAJ/DC I STAFF
SECRETARY/EMAIL: JOSE.VALLE@USMC.MIL/TEL: 703-693- 8697// 
POC 2/KELVIN R. AGUILAR/MSGT/DC I ADMIN CHIEF/
EMAIL: KELVIN.AGUILAR@USMC.MIL/TEL: 703-693-8693// 
POC 3//DENISE A. SHEPHERD/MGYSGT/DC I OPERATIONS CHIEF/
EMAIL: DENISE.SHEPHERD@USMC.MIL/TEL: 703-692-7714// 
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. The Marine Corps Association (MCA) Information
Awards are administered by the Deputy Commandant for Information
(DC I) and consist of 25 individual awards, three unit/organization
awards, and one individual or team award in the fields of
information. The high quality of the nominees reflects the
continued outstanding performance of all the Marines and Civilians
throughout the Marine Corps Information Environment Enterprise.
Congratulations to all the nominees and selectees for this year’s
MCA Information Awards. 
2. I am pleased to announce the following selectees: 
2.a. The James Hamilton Information Technology (IT) Management
Civilian Marine of the Year Award:  Mr. Keith Kauwe, Marine Corps
Cyberspace Operations Group (MCCOG). 
2.b. The PFC Herbert A. Littleton Enlisted Awards: 
2.b.1. Noncommissioned Officer Award for Operational Communications
Excellence:  Sgt Landon A. Wilks, G-6, II Marine Expeditionary Force
(MEF). 
2.b.2. Staff Noncommissioned Officer Award for Operational
Communications Excellence:  SSgt Dieter G. Wiesner, 1st Marine
Raider Battalion (MRB), Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations
Command (MARSOC). 
2.b.3. Noncommissioned Officer Award for Electronics Maintenance
Excellence: Sgt Dylan T. Yates, 12th Marine Littoral Regiment
(MLR), 3d Marine Division (MARDIV). 
2.b.4. Staff Noncommissioned Officer Award for Electronics
Maintenance Excellence: SSgt Brenden B. Kuhlmann, 12th MLR, 3d
MARDIV. 
2.c. The CWO5 Brian "Joe" Graniero Restricted Officer Communications
Award: CWO2 Benjamin J. Rand, G-6, 2d Marine Logistics Group. 
2.d. The General Alfred M. Gray Award: Captain Trevor R. Pace, 26th
Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), II MEF. 
2.e. The LtCol Kevin M. Shea Memorial Unit of the Year Award: Marine
Wing Communications Squadron-38, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing. 
2.f. The John J. Guenther Marine Corps Intelligence Civilian of the
Year Award: Mr. Cameron Harvey, 700 Combat Support Team, Marine
Corps Cyberspace Warfare Group. 
2.g. The LCpl James E. Swain Marine Corps Intelligence Enlisted
Marine of the Year Award: LCpl Johnny W. Schimmelmann, 3d Littoral
Combat Team, 3d MLR. 
2.h. The MSgt Charles C. Arndt Marine Corps Intelligence
Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award: Sgt Nizhoni P. Antle,
Marine Corps Intelligence Activity. 
2.i. The MGySgt Samuel C. Plott Marine Corps Intelligence Staff
Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award: GySgt Briana Ferguson,
3d Marine Raider Support Battalion (MRSB), MARSOC. 
2.j. The LtCol Michael D. Kuszewski Marine Corps Intelligence
Officer of the Year Award: Maj Hunter C. Harrel, 3d MRB, MARSOC. 
2.k. The LtGen Vincent R. Stewart, Intelligence Unit of the Year
Award: Marine Raider Support Group, MARSOC. 
2.l. The Identity and Attribution Activities (IA2) Marine of the
Year Award: SSgt Kevin B. Allen, 22d MEU, II MEF. 
2.m. METOC Marine of the Year: Sgt Haylee N. Witcher, 2d Marine
Expeditionary Brigade, II MEF.  
2.n. The Information Civilian of the Year Award:  Mr. Ruben Acosta,
Marine Corps Information Operations Center, Marine Corps Information
Command. 
2.o. The Cyberspace Warfare Enlisted Marine of the Year Award: LCpl
Dragan S. Welton, 1st Network Battalion, MCCOG. 
2.p. The Cyberspace Warfare NCO of the Year Award: Sgt Charles A.
Grubbs, 3d Cyber Warfare Company, III MEF Information Group (MIG). 
2.q. The Cyberspace Warfare SNCO of the Year Award: MSgt Kevin M.
Coppola, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, Marine Corps
Air Ground Combat Center. 
2.r. The Cyberspace Restricted Officer of the Year Award: CWO3
Anthony K. Franchi, II MIG, II MEF. 
2.s. The Cyberspace Warfare Officer of the Year Award: Capt Joshua
Diaz, 8th Communications Battalion, II MEF. 
2.t. The Maritime Space Officer of the Year Award: Maj Christos M.
Almeida, U.S. Space Command. 
2.u. The Influence NCO of the Year Award: Sgt Myles B. Bolanos, 1st
Information Maneuver Company, I MIG. 
2.v. The Influence SNCO of the Year Award: SSgt Jamar J. Jones, 2d
MRB, MARSOC. 
2.w. The Influence Officer of the Year Award: Major Jason K. Mahuna,
G-39, Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. 
2.x. The Marine Corps Information Environment Enterprise (MCIEE)
Technical Leadership Award: CWO5 Daniel R. Mitchell, G-9, Marine
Corps Forces, Cyberspace Command. 
2.y. The MCIEE Innovation Award: Maj Austin J. Oubre, Marine Corps
Forces, Space Command. 
2.z. The Information Unit of the Year Award:  II MIG. 
3. The Information Awards selectees will be honored at the annual
MCA Information Awards Dinner.  Held in close coordination between
MCA and DC I, this dinner showcases the top performing Marines,
civilians and units from the Information, C4, and Intelligence
communities on 23 April 2026.  Dinner and registration information
can be found at:
https://www.mca-marines.org/event/2026-information-awards-dinner/. 
4. Again, I extend my sincere congratulations to these professionals
and their families who displayed the utmost professionalism and
loyalty to our Marine Corps. 
5. Release authorized by Lieutenant General J. A. Matos III,
Headquarters Marine Corps, Deputy Commandant for Information.//