CORONADO, Calif. –
Retired Chief Storekeeper Steven Elliott received the 2022 Department of Defense (DoD) Outstanding Employee/Service Member Annual Disability Award for his work as Naval Special Warfare Group (NSWG) 1’s medical supply program manager.
Each October, service members and civilian DoD employees are selected to receive this award for their outstanding contributions to the federal workforce.
“I am very proud of Steve. He is an invaluable member of the Naval Special Warfare Group 1 team,” said Capt. David Abernathy, commander, NSWG-1. “Keeping our Sailors healthy and ready is our top priority, and his steadfast work ethic and dedication to his teammates allows us to do just that.”
NSWG-1 mans, trains, equips, develops, deploys and sustains Naval special warfare forces in support of combatant commanders around the world. Elliott’s dedication to duty helped NSWG-1 uphold their mission statement by improving operational readiness and capability.
Elliott, who has been NSWG-1’s medical supply program manager since 2015, is responsible for a $2.49 million annual budget and the maintenance of $10 million in medical supplies and equipment. His experience in the collection and analysis of supply statistics, workload data, product reviews, and test and evaluation ensured NSWG-1 procured the highest quality products at the most cost-efficient price point to improve SEAL survivability in austere operations.
Through decades of combined active-duty military and DoD civilian employee service, Elliott reflected on what receiving the 42nd annual award means to him.
“I have had the opportunity to work with NSW on active duty and as a federal employee for 35 years,” he said. “The people who I serve with today are like family. I enjoy what I do, and I love the service members that are out there every day doing the work to keep our country free. I am honored to be part of this team and being given this award confirms my hard work and dedication to the Sailors I work with.”
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The U.S. Department of Labor uses the month, which is themed “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation” for 2022, to highlight the vital role disabled people play in making our nation’s workforce diverse and inclusive.
At the virtual awards ceremony on Oct. 20, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks spoke about the importance of utilizing diversity to strengthen the DoD.
"Today, we celebrate the core element of our unmatched strength as a military and Department of Defense — our people," said Hicks. "Maintaining that strength requires tapping into every reservoir of talents and skills that America has to offer. That includes people with disabilities — who bring so much to this department through their talents, skills, education and motivation to serve."
Elliott, who is one of 28 individual awardees, spoke about what the award means to him.
“I’m honored to be selected to represent all my brothers and sisters with disabilities,” he said. “Even though we have disabilities, we can do anything we set our minds to. Hard work, dedication and perseverance has gotten every one of us to where we are today, and this award solidifies that.”
Since 1962, Naval Special Warfare has been the nation’s premier maritime special operations force – a highly reliable and lethal force – always ready to conduct full-spectrum operations, unilaterally or with partners, in support of national objectives, and uniquely positioned to extend the Fleet’s reach, delivering all-domain options for Naval and joint force commanders. For more news from Naval Special Warfare Command, visit https://www.facebook.com/NavalSpecialWarfare or https://www.nsw.navy.mil/.