Distinguished Submariner Award
The Naval Submarine League Distinguished Submariner Award recognizes the personal contributions of submarine qualified individuals, officer or enlisted. This award was originally established in 1983 as the Submarine Hero Award, and renamed in 2000 as the Distinguished Submariner Award.
The award is to be made to the most deserving individual when considering his or her lifetime achievements. The contributions may have been during distinguished service in positions of responsibility in the fleet, or, following naval service, the awardee made contributions of extraordinary value to the success of the submarine force, the Navy, or the nation.
Nominations may be submitted by email to execdirector@navalsubleague.org and should provide a description (no more than a one-page attachment) of how the person meets the criteria above.
The Naval Submarine League
DISTINGUISHED SUBMARINER AWARD
for
Outstanding Service to the Nation
is presented to
ADM Edmund P. Giambastiani USN (Ret)
Admiral Giambastiani served the Navy with great distinction for over 37 years of commissioned service. His afloat commands and operational staff leadership assignments included NR-1, the Navy’s only nuclear-powered deep diving and research submarine, USS RICHARD B RUSSELL (SSN 687), Submarine Development Squadron Twelve, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Anti-Submarine Reconnaissance Forces, Atlantic. Ashore he served as enlisted program manager of the Navy Recruiting Command, as Special Assistant to the Deputy Director for Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, as the first Director of the Naval Doctrine Command, as Deputy Chief of Staff for Resources and Requirements, U.S. Pacific Fleet, as Director Submarine Warfare Division (OPNAV N87), as Deputy CNO for Resources, Requirements and Assessments (OPNAV N8), and as Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, then Donald Rumsfeld. In his final assignment on active duty, he served as the Seventh Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this assignment he chaired multiple Councils and Executive Advisory Groups working directly with high level government and world leaders. In retirement Admiral Giambastiani serves on several Boards supporting investment and defense issues. He is a major supporter of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation Athletic and Scholarship Programs.
It is most appropriate that his dedicated service is recognized by the Naval Submarine League as Distinguished Submariner for 2023.
The Naval Submarine League
DISTINGUISHED SUBMARINER AWARD
for
Outstanding Service to the Submarine Force
is presented to
VADM Paul E. Sullivan, USN (Ret)
Vice Admiral Sullivan served the Navy and his country with great distinction for over 34 years of commissioned service. After initial sea duty he transitioned to the Engineering Duty Officer community serving all types of ships at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Following a tour on USS James Madison (SSBN 627) he was assigned to the Naval Sea Systems Command as Deputy Ship Design Manager of SEAWOLF attack submarines. After an instructor duty tour at MIT, he was assigned as the OHIO class and 688 Class Submarine Project Officer at SUPSHIPS Groton where he delivered Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Alexandria. After that tour he again was assigned to the SEAWOLF program as Program Manager where he delivered the first-of-class SEAWOLF. After the delivery he was assigned as Program Manager of the VIRGINIA Attack Submarine Program supervising its design and construction. After being selected to Rear Admiral, he became NAVSEA’s Chief Engineer as Deputy Commander, becoming the Commander three years later. As Commander, he directed all contracting, design, construction, testing, certification, delivery, and life-cycle maintenance of the Navy’s ships and their integrated combat/weapon systems. After retirement in 2008 he joined USEC, a global energy corporation. In 2014 he became the Executive Director of the Applied Research Laboratory at the Pennsylvania State University. He currently serves as the primary consultant and senior advisor on the AUKUS submarine development program.
It is most appropriate that his dedicated service is recognized by the Naval Submarine League as a Distinguished Submariner for 2023.
Distinguished Submariner Awardees
Prior to 2019, the award was restricted to “a Naval Officer, whose contributions have been of extraordinary value to the success of the United States Navy’s submarine program … considering the entire history of the submarine program.”
2022 Mr. Martin Cooper
2021 ADM Richard W. Mies, USN, Ret. and ADM Frank L. Bowman, USN, Ret.
2020 ADM Archie R. Clemins, USN, Ret. and VADM Ronald M. Eytchison, USN, Ret.
2019 VADM George W. Emery, USN, Ret.
2018 ADM Hank Chiles, USN, Ret. and RADM Jerry Holland, USN, Ret.
2017 ADM Powell F. Carter, USN, Ret. (posthumously), VADM Daniel L. Cooper, USN, Ret., and VADM Ron Thunman, USN, Ret.
2016 ADM Bruce DeMars, USN, Ret., and ADM William Smith, USN, Ret.
2015 VADM Kenneth M. Carr, USN, Ret. & VADM John H. Nicholson, USN, Ret.
2014 VADM Bernard M. Kauderer, USN, Ret., & ADM Charles Larson, USN, Ret. (posthumously)
2013 VADM E. A. Burkhalter, Jr., USN, Ret. & ADM Frank B. Kelso, II, USN, Ret. (posthumously)
2012 VADM Patrick J. Hannifin, USN, Ret.
2011 ADM Kinnaird R. McKee, USN, Ret.
2010 VADM Joe Williams, Jr., USN, Ret.
2009 Team Submarine
2008 Submarine Force Master & Senior CPOs & COBs
2007 Submarine Medal of Honor Winners
2006 RADM Robert H. Wertheim, USN, Ret.
2005 ADM Carlisle A. H. Trost, USN, Ret.
2004 The Submarine Family
2003 ADM William J Crowe, Jr., USN, Ret.
2002 ADM James D. “Jim” Watkins, USN, Ret.
2001 CAPT Edward L. “Ned” Beach, USN, Ret.
2000 WW II Submariners
Submarine Hero Awardees
1999 VADM James F. Calvert, USN, Ret.
1998 VADM Arnold F. “Arnie” Schade, USN, Ret.
1997 ADM Robert L. J. “Bob” Long, USN, Ret.
1996 VADM Dennis Wilkinson, USN, Ret.
1995 VADM Eli Reich, USN, Ret.
1994 RADM John S. “Jack” Coye, USN, Ret.
1993 Mrs. Patricia Lee Lewis
1992 CAPT Slade D. Cutter, USN, Ret.
1991 RADM William T. “Bill” Kinsella, USN, Ret.
1990 RDML Richard H. “Dick” O’Kane, USN, Ret.
1989 CAPT George L. Street III, USN, Ret.
1988 RADM Roy S. Benson, USN, Ret.
1987 ADM I. J. “Pete” Galantin, USN, Ret.
1986 RADM Frederick B. “Fred” Warder, USN, Ret.
1985 RADM Eugene B. “Gene” Fluckey, USN, Ret.
1984 ADM Bernard A. “Chick” Clarey, USN, Ret.
1983 VADM Lawson P. “Red” Ramage, USN, Ret.