FAIRFAX, Va./EWORLDWIRE/Feb. 9, 2006 --- AFCEA International is proud to announce the creation of the VADM Arthur K. Cebrowski, USN (Ret.) Award. The award honors the lifetime of service and tremendous contributions made by the late Admiral Cebrowski. The Admiral was a long-time, staunch advocate of AFCEA who believed in the power of exchanging ideas to transform the defense and IT communities.
The annual AFCEA leadership award will recognize bold innovation and change as well as lasting contributions in defense and IT. AFCEA will present the inaugural award at a future AFCEA event to be identified soon.
The Admiral, who passed away in November, most recently served his country as Director of Force Transformation in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and was an outspoken advocate for innovation in U.S. defense and a catalyst for change. He retired from the Navy in 2001 after 37 years of service which included command of Fighter Squadron 41 and Carrier Air Wing 8, the assault ship USS Guam, the aircraft carrier USS Midway and the USS America Battle Group. In addition to combat deployments to Vietnam and the Persian Gulf, he deployed in support of the United Nations operations in Iraq, Somalia and Bosnia. His tours of duty included serving with the U.S. Air Force; the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet; four times with the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations; and with the Joint Staff as the Director, Command, Control, Communications and Computers, J-6. Additionally he served as President of the Naval War College.
“If I had to define Admiral Cebrowski, it would be ‘friend, patriot and sailor,’” relates VADM Herb Browne, USN (Ret.), President and Chief Executive Officer of AFCEA International. “He was well-known for being the father of transformation and the father of network-centric operations. But there was much more to Art Cebrowski. He was a marvelous leader who was bright, forward-thinking and could relate to a blue-collar American Bluejacket on the deck plates. We are pleased to honor his profound legacy with this award.”
Terry Pudas, Acting Director, Force Transformation, describes his former boss: “Admiral Cebrowski used to characterize his work as being ‘at the intersection of national security and large scale change.’ He had a unique ability to look at events in society and seek an understanding to the question ‘why were these things happening and what were the underlying changes in first principles?’ Although he challenged conventional wisdom, and made some senior leaders uncomfortable, he always sought to win them over through a new compelling logic. He had three priorities in his life which he never deviated from: God, family and country.”
“Art Cebrowski was a cherished friend, esteemed shipmate and sublime leader who possessed the eloquence of Demosthenes and the wisdom of Solomon,” says VADM Jerry Tuttle, USN (Ret.). “He was that individual for whom the term “warrior” should be reserved. For a significant part of his extraordinarily productive life he courageously battled the stygian anathema until it became overwhelming and exceeded human endurance. His brilliance and sagaciousness were renowned globally and his imaginative and creative accomplishments are chiseled in our military commandments that will have a galactic impact on how wars are waged for decades to come and how freedom is preserved for ages yet unborn. He saw what others witnessed, but thought what nobody else thought. His greatness is indelibly graven in the hearts and minds of those who knew him as he awaits induction into the Pantheon for American Heroes. One can imagine hearing in the distant din Art averring veni, vidi vici. May God bless Art as he has used Art to bless us.” VADM Tuttle, a Naval Aviator, served as the Navy Director of C4I prior to his retirement.
AFCEA is an international non-profit association providing a forum for the professional communications, electronics, intelligence, homeland security and information systems community. AFCEA serves as an ethical bridge between government requirements and industry’s capabilities, representing the top government, military and industry professionals. For more information visit www.afcea.org.
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