YOKOSUKA, Japan—Construction Electrician First Class (CE1) Yancey Barnes was selected as Naval Facilities Engineering Command 2014 Shore Sailor of the Year Feb. 11.
Barnes served in the Public Works Department (PWD) Chinhae, Korea Seabee Self-help unit as leading petty officer and production manager in 2014.
“Petty Officer Barnes distinguished himself as the NAVFAC Shore Sailor of the Year while serving as leading petty officer and production manager at Public Works Department Chinhae,” said NAVFAC Commander Rear Adm. Kate Gregory. “He provided exceptional support to 22 tenant commands and 222 base facilities across three geographical locations through the execution of over 1,787 work orders while skillfully managing a budget of over $1 million. Most notably, his leadership was key as he directed military and shop response teams that restored base power and water after a catastrophic retaining wall failure.”
The Sailor of the Year program recognizes sailors who best represent superior dedicated professionals serving in a particular type of duty. The Sailor of the Year epitomizes the Navy core values and is typified by a history of sustained superior performance, significant positive command impact, outstanding mission contribution, and proven leadership ability.
“This is an extraordinary accomplishment and CE1 Barnes is certainly deserving of this recognition,” said NAVFAC Far East Commanding Officer Capt. Michelle La Duca. “His selection as NAVFAC Shore Sailor of the Year is a testament to the impact we have on the NAVFAC mission in the Far East and across NAVFAC and the Navy as a whole.”
Barnes led nine military personnel and 37 host-nation employees. In 2014, he oversaw completion of six construction projects valued approximately $1 million and his group managed facilities maintenance for 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, when selected as NAVFAC Far East Sailor of the Year. “If it wasn't for my Leading Chief Petty Officer 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.