YOKOSUKA, Japan—Commanding Officer Capt. Michelle LaDuca announced the selection of Construction Electrician First Class (CE1) Yancey Barnes as Naval Facilities Engineering Command Far East Fiscal Year 2014 Sailor of the Year Nov. 24.
Barnes currently serves in the Public Works Department (PWD) Chinhae, Korea Seabee Self-help unit as leading petty officer and production manager.
“CE1 [Barnes] has been a tremendous asset to us here at PWD Chinhae. The leadership he's provided to not only our Seabees here, but the Sailors of Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae (CFAC) as well has really solidified his selection as Sailor of the Year for NAVFAC Far East,” said Leading Chief Petty Officer Shawn Davis. “When they say success breeds success, I don't think you can find any better example than PWD Chinhae's department as he truly pushes peers and juniors alike to excel in their jobs and within the community. I can say that it's been a pleasure working with him and mentoring him as his Chief.”
Barnes leads nine military personnel and 37 host-nation employees. In 2014, Barnes oversaw completion of six construction projects valued nearly $1 million and his group managed facilities maintenance for more than 230 structures at three U.S. military installations in the Republic of Korea. During that time, he also was the Fleet Activities Chinhae Mentorship Program manager and president of the First Class Petty Officer Association. In the community, Barnes volunteered 40 hours for the “Good Neighbor Program” that supports local special needs orphanages, and helped teach English at Changwon Poly Technical University.
“[The award] speaks to how great of a team I have working with me. Without their hard work I wouldn't have gotten this far,” said Barnes. “If it wasn't for my LCPO Shawn Davis and Public Works Officer Lt. Thomas Carron who pushes us to bring the best out of all of our Sailors, we wouldn't have been as successful as we have over the past year. So it's a great personal award, but I am just a reflection of their leadership and the people I lead. This is just as much theirs as it is my own.”
Barnes began his Navy career in 1999. Since then, he has been stationed or deployed around the world, including in Spain, the Philippines, Iraq, Japan, Bahrain, Morocco, Italy, Antarctica, Japan and Korea. His personal decorations include two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation.
The NAVFAC Far East Sailor of the Year will be considered for NAVFAC Pacific Sailor of the Year, to be selected in December.