Announcement of the Fiscal Year 2025 Manpower and Reserve Affairs Awards Program Recipients

1.  Non-statutory awards boards reviewed 
over 140 nominations spanning several award categories. 
Amongst a field of highly qualified and genuinely outstanding 
nominees, the Deputy Commandant (DC) for Manpower and Reserve 
Affairs (M&RA) takes pleasure in congratulating the following 
recipients of the Fiscal Year (FY)  2025 DC M&RA Personnel 
and Programs of the Year:
1.a.  Administration Marine of the Year (E1-E3):  Lance 
Corporal Bryan Galvez, Combat Logistics Battalion 4, Okinawa, 
Japan.
1.b.  Administration Noncommissioned Officer of the Year:  
Corporal Isabelle B. Chavez, Headquarters Battalion, 3d Marine 
Division, Okinawa, Japan.
1.c.  Reserve Administration Noncommissioned Officer of the 
Year (SMCR/IMA):  Corporal  Todd A. Karlsen, III MEF Support 
Battalion, Okinawa, Japan.
1.d.  Administration Staff Noncommissioned Officer of the Year 
(E6-E7):  Gunnery Sergeant  Adimonika N. Qiokata, Headquarters 
and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, 
CA.
1.e.  Personnel Officer of the Year: Chief Warrant Officer 3 
Jesse M. Corado, Headquarters and Service Battalion, 1st 
Marine Logistics Group, Camp Pendleton, CA.
1.f.  Manpower Officer of the Year (O1-O3): Captain Ariel A. 
Beavers, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Okinawa, Japan.
1.g.  Civilian Administrator of the Year (GS4-GS8): Mr. Edward 
W. Luckado III, Headquarters Battalion, Marine Forces 
Reserve/Marine Forces South, New Orleans, LA.  As per 
reference (e), funding for this category is currently on hold.
1.h.  Civilian Analyst of the Year (GS9-GS12): Mr. Alan M. 
Epps Jr, Manpower Systems Support Activity, Kansas City, MO. 
Per reference (e), funding for this category is currently on 
hold.
1.i.  Personnel Administration Center of the Year: Regional 
Personnel Administration Center Marine Corps Installations-
East.
1.j.  Funding and travel for categories listed in paragraphs 
1.a-i will be covered by the M&RA Secretariat (SEC).  The 
point of contact is Master Gunnery Sergeant Ramsen Dekelaita, 
at ramsen.dekelaita@usmc.mil.
1.k.  Career Planner of the Year: The announcement will be 
released via separate MARADMIN. 
1.k.1  Funding and travel for the category in paragraph 1.k 
will be covered by Manpower Management (MM) Division.  The 
point of contact is Master Gunnery Sergeant Bryant Lodge at 
bryant.lodge@usmc.mil.
1.l.  Active Reserve Career Planner of the Year: Gunnery 
Sergeant  Justin K. Pedersen, MWSS-471 MAG-41 4th MAW, 
Minneapolis, MN.
1.l.1.  Funding and travel for the category in paragraph 1.l. 
will be covered by Marine Forces Reserve (MFR).  The point of 
contact is Master Gunnery Sergeant James C. Williams at 
james.c.williams7@usmc.mil.
1.m.  Postal Marine of the Year (E4-E7):  Corporal Stephanie 
Chavez, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps 
Installations Pacific, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Okinawa, 
Japan.
1.m.1.  Funding and travel for the category in paragraph 1.m. 
will be covered by Marine and Family Programs Division (MF).  
The point of contact is the point of contact is Mrs. Bonnie 
Burns at bonnie.burns@usmc.mil.
1.n.  Child Development Center Staff of the Year: Ms. 
Stephanny Vizuete, Child & Youth Programs/Tawara Terrace Youth 
Pavilion, Camp Lejeune – New River, NC.
1.n.1.  Funding and travel for categories in paragraph 1.n. 
will be covered by Marine and Family Programs Division (MF).  
The point of contact is Ms. Kari A. Ratcliffe at 
kari.ratcliffe@usmc.mil.
1.o.  Marine Family Program Employee of the Year: the 
announcement will be released via separate MARADMIN.
1.o.1.  Funding and travel for categories in paragraph 1.o. 
will be covered by Marine and Family Programs Division (MF).  
The point of contact is Mrs. Bonnie Burns at 
bonnie.burns@usmc.mil.
1.p.  Equal Opportunity Advisor of the Year: Gunnery Sergeant 
Lindsey M. Dabdoub, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine 
Division, Camp Pendleton, CA.
1.p.1.  Funding and travel for the category in paragraph 1.p. 
above will be covered by the Military Plans and Policy (MP) 
Division. The point of contact is Master Gunnery Sergeant 
Rodney D. Smith at rodney.d.smith@usmc.mil.
1.q.  Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) Marine of the 
Year (E5-E8): Staff Sergeant Brittney M. Smith, Headquarters 
and Service Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Camp 
Pendleton, CA.
1.q.1.  Funding and travel for the category in paragraph 1.q. 
above will be covered by Business and Support Services (MR) 
Division.  The point of contact is MGySgt Michael Huff, email: 
michael.huff@usmc-mccs.org.
2.  Award recipients must submit a command board photo and a 
biography (maximum of 200 words) to the Marine Corps 
Association (MCA) and Secretariat points of contact listed in 
this MARADMIN by 13 March 2026.
2.a.  Award recipients will be officially recognized at the 
Marine Corps Association Manpower & Reserve awards dinner, 
scheduled at 1800 on 9 Apr 2026, at the clubs at Quantico, 
3017 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134.
2.b.  Attire. Award recipients who are service members must 
wear their service 'A' uniform, while civilian recipients are 
required to wear business attire, such as a coat and tie or a 
cocktail dress.  All guests attending the event must also be 
in business attire.  While no speeches are required, awardees 
will be present on stage to formally accept their awards.
2.c.  Costs.  Travel funding is authorized for the award 
recipient only; guest travel and lodging is not funded.  
Rental cars are available through the parent command or at the 
attendee's personal expense.  The MCA will cover the meal 
costs for each award recipient and up to three of their 
civilian guests.  Additionally, all attending Marines and 
their spouses dine free, with the number of Marines limited 
only by the ballroom's capacity.  Note that all other 
expenses, including travel and lodging, are not funded by the 
MCA.
2.d.  All applicable award recipients in categories listed in 
paragraph 1 must inform the MCA's point of contact of the 
additional attendee no later than three weeks before the event 
and complete the MCA Manpower and Reserve Affairs Programs 
Award recipient information form, which will be provided by 
the MCA.  
3.  Per reference (d), para 4.b.(3)(b), commands are directed 
to submit a DC report when significant administrative, 
commendatory, or adverse action by the MRO occurs that 
requires immediate reporting to CMC.  The Marines listed above 
are subject to a service-wide eligible award; begin section I 
of all DC reports by stating the reason for submission. 
4.  Congratulations to all personnel who were nominated.  Your 
noteworthy performance and passion for providing superior 
support to fellow Marines, Civilian Marines, other service 
personnel, and their families are truly inspirational.  
5.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General William J. 
Bowers, Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.