This Veterans Day, we honor all who have solemnly sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Thank you for your service and your sacrifice!
On every day after, let us continue to strive towards a more perfect union as we fulfill the promises of the American Dream. May God continue to bless America!
Cedric E. Pringle
RDML USN (Retired)
On 13 October 1775, the Continental Congress established what would become the United States Navy with a resolution, “that a swift sailing vessel, to carry ten carriage guns, and a proportionable number of swivels, with eighty men, be fitted, with all possible dispatch, for a cruise of three months, and that the commander be instructed to cruise eastward, for intercepting such transports as may be laden with warlike stores and other supplies for our enemies, and for such other purposes as the Congress shall direct.”
Beginning with one sailing ship, to the present fleet of approximately 470 active and reserve fleet ships, our Navy continues to control the sea lanes and provide that deterrent and quick response force world-wide. However, the real strength of our Navy remains the diverse group of highly intelligent and professional individuals who come together to make our Navy the most lethal it’s ever been.
The National Naval Officers Association proudly toasts our Sailors, past and present, who are the foundation upon which our nation has built and sustained the preeminent sea-faring force and secured our nation’s many victories in the pursuit of life, liberty and the American way.
Happy 248th Birthday, Shipmates!
Greetings Fellow Members and Supporters!
This week kicks off our annual Professional Development and Leadership Training Symposium recognizing our 51st year of making a difference. As we build on celebrating last year’s historic 50th anniversary, our National Naval Officers Association (NNOA) remains more relevant than ever to the success of our U.S. Sea Services. With the hard work and support of our members, partners, and sponsors, our efforts in the recruitment, retention, and career development of a more diverse and effective total force makes a positive impact on unifying and strengthening our nation daily.
This year’s theme is “NNOA: Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Mentorship and Professional Development.” Our main action items are to educate, inspire, engage, and elevate current and future leaders by learning from our past to better prepare for success in the future. Those four words (Educate, Inspire, Engage, and Elevate) will be used a lot this week and this year as we move forward. From an educational perspective, we join our nation in celebrating the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9981 (Desegregation of Armed Services) and the 50th anniversary of our All-Volunteer Force. Both are key documents for NNOA’s very existence and are crucial elements of helping all leaders understand the mandate for a diverse force that operates in an equitable and inclusive environment. Additionally, our highly successful Youth STEM Event series continues to educate middle and high school students on scholarship and service opportunities. Our program lights the path for many students to serve as future military, government, and business leaders, thus enhancing our nation’s pursuit of a more perfect union.
From an inspirational standpoint, NNOA’s creation in 1972 by midgrade and junior officers on the campus of the Naval Academy is a story worth sharing and can be found on our www.NNOA.org website. Since then, NNOA has grown into the premier mentoring and coaching affinity group across all Sea Services, and we have significant representation in the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Transportation, among others. There are literally hundreds of inspirational stories of NNOA members successfully making a difference at the national, organizational, and individual levels, so please be prepared to share your story this week, both in person and on social media.
With respect to engagement, NNOA has been unwavering. Our dedication to mentoring, coaching, and advocating for a stronger and more diverse officer corps in the Sea Services remains the same and it’s our collective responsibility to seek innovative ways to get better. This year, we expanded our monthly and quarterly mentoring sessions across virtual environments, which ranged from Junior to Senior Officer sessions across East Coast, West Coast, and Forward Deployed forces. We have also strengthened our collaboration with the Association of Naval Services Officers (ANSO), Sea Services Leadership Association (SSLA), and other like-minded organizations to synchronize our efforts going forward.
To elevate our activities to new levels of excellence, we have made significant progress in firmly establishing our NNOA Foundation. Doing so enhances our long-term fiscal stability while expanding commitments from our sponsors and supporters. As our partnerships expand, so do our impact and influence opportunities.
For those who are here attending the Symposium in person, thank you. I look forward to seeing you this week and ask that you take the time to meet and engage with at least five new people. Listen to their inspirational stories while sharing your own, and feel free to capture some of those moments on social media.
Thank you, as well, to our members and supporters who were not able to attend this year but continue to support our mission worldwide. The future success of NNOA rests on the shoulders of all of us.
Lastly, we can all benefit from applying the old proverb… “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together!” NNOA has come a long way, and we have a long way to go. We are stronger together!
Cedric E. Pringle
RDML (Retired) USN
25th President
On March 24, 2023, the Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy (USNA) and the President of the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation presented medals to its 2023 Distinguished Graduate Awardees (DGA) at Alumni Hall at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Notably, three of the five awardees are longtime NNOA members whose servant leadership continues to strengthen our Nation, our Naval Services, and our Association. NNOA DGAs for this year are:
Other awardees include:
On behalf of NNOA, congratulations to each of you and may God continue to bless all that you do!
Cedric E. Pringle
RDML USN (Retired)
President NNOA
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Dear Members, Family, and Friends of NNOA,
Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings! On behalf of our Board of Directors, I wish each of you and your families excellent health, enduring happiness, and abundant prosperity throughout the season and the upcoming year. As I reflect on the many successes of 2022 for our association, I am humbled by our collective accomplishments, which will be captured in my upcoming State of NNOA and Strategic Guidance message
Our expectations continue to rise since 2023 will be the 75th anniversary of the signing of Executive Orders 9980 (Fair Employment Practices of the Federal Government) and 9981 (Desegregation of the Forces). Next year will also mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of our All-Volunteer Force. Those documents serve as the foundation for NNOA’s very existence and, in many ways, moved our nation towards a more perfect union.
In recognition of those anniversaries, I ask that you acknowledge those documents in any NNOA-related speaking engagement, such as Black History Month programs, scholarship banquet speeches, or professional military education events, where appropriate. My objective is to educate, inspire, and remind members and non-members of the positive aspects of our country’s history as we get better in 2023. Additionally, those documents will contribute to developing the theme of our 51st National Symposium which will be held at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California July 31-August 4, 2023.
In closing, as you make resolutions for 2023, I ask that each of you to do the following…reflect, reconnect, and renew:
First and foremost…reflect. Please reflect on the many good things that NNOA has done for you and your career and think about how you can pay it forward to help others. Additionally, let us never forget our founders and their servant leadership that paved the way for us. We especially remember Captain Claude A. Williams, one of the founding members of NNOA, and Captain Harold R. Wise, former NNOA president, who recently passed.
Second…reconnect. Please get the word out about NNOA to both members and non-members, as well as to co-workers, friends, and family. There are too many officers who need our mentoring and coaching but are unaware of the power of our organization. Reach out to them and invite them to a local meeting and connect them with someone who can advise and assist accordingly.
Third…. renew. Renew your effort to support NNOA! Volunteer your time and your talents to be a mentor or a protégé at your local chapter and continue to support our mission of Recruitment, Retention, and Career Development. NNOA has come a long way, but greater work is yet to be done. Our calling is to keep pushing forward into the next 50 years!
Again, thank you for all that you do and please “…do not become weary in doing good.”
Enjoy your holidays and stay safe!
Cedric E. Pringle
RDML USN, Retired
25th President NNOA