Solicitation for the 2026 Marine Corps Aviation Awards

1. Purpose.  To solicit nominations for the annual
Marine Corps Aviation Awards.  These prestigious awards recognize
those Marines and units that have distinguished themselves as the
best in Marine aviation during the award period from 1 January 2026
to 31 December 2026.
2. The 2026 Marine Corps Aviation Awards are listed below:
2.a. Alfred A. Cunningham Award- Marine Aviator of the Year
2.b. Robert Guy Robinson Award- Marine Naval Flight Officer of the
Year
2.c. James W. Frey Award- Marine Unmanned Aerial Systems Officer
of the year
2.d. Earle Hattaway Award- Marine Aviation Ground Officer of the Year
2.e. Robert F. Gibson Award- Marine Aviation Command and Control
Officer of the Year
2.f. Silver Hawk Award- Marine Aviator with earliest Designation Date
2.g. Frank E. Petersen Award- Marine Flight Student of the Year
2.h. Marion E. Carl Award- Marine Fleet Replacement Squadron
Instructor Pilot of the Year
2.i. Danny L. Radish Award- Marine Enlisted Aircrew of the Year
2.j. Pioneer Award- Marine Enlisted Unmanned Aerial Systems
Sensor Operator of the Year
2.k. Willie D. Sproule Award- Aviation Maintenance Marine of the
Year
2.l. Kenneth W. Southcomb Award- Aviation Supply Marine of the Year
2.m. Paul G. Vess Award- Avionics Marine of the Year
2.n. Gaines B. Gilbert Award- Aviation Ordnance Marine of the Year
2.o. Kenneth A. Innis Award- Aviation Command and Control Marine of
the Year
2.p. Jack W. Demmond Award- Aviation Ground Marine of the Year
2.q. Walter L. J. Bayler Award- Command and Control Electronic
Maintenance Marine of the Year
2.r. Jeffrey S. Vogel Award- Ground Based Air Defense Marine of
the Year
2.s. James E. Nicholson Award- Noncommissioned Officer Leadership
Award
2.t. James Maguire Award- Exceptional Achievement (Marine or Unit)
2.u. Michael A. Hough Acquisition Award- Acquisition Excellence in
Marine Aviation
2.v. Commandant Aviation Trophy for Superior Performance in Marine 
Aviation (Squadron)
2.w. Robert M. Hanson Award- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron of the
Year
2.x. Henry Wildfang Award- Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron
of the Year
2.y. Fred McCorkle Award- Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron of the
Year
2.z. John P. Giguere Award- Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron
of the Year
2.aa. Keith B. McCutcheon Award- Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron of
the Year
2.ab. John I. Hudson Award- Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron
of the Year
2.ac. Donald E. Davis Award- Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron of
the Year
2.ad. James E. Hatch Award- Marine Wing Support Squadron of the
Year
2.ae. Edward S. Fris Award- Marine Air Command and Control Unit of
the Year
2.af. Pete Ross Award- Superior Performance in Marine Aviation
Safety
2.ag. Ted Williams Award- Individual Exceptional Achievement in
Reserve Marine Aviation
2.ah. Jack Bergman Award- Marine Reserve Unit of the Year
3. Selection of award recipients will be made by an awards board
convened by Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) Department of Aviation
(AVN) and will be comprised of senior members of the aviation
community. Announcement of award winners and details regarding
presentation of awards will be provided in future correspondence.
4. Action
4.a. Commands with personnel and/or organizations meeting the
criteria contained in the reference are encouraged to submit
nominations. Commands are directed to review the reference and HQMC
AVN Aircrew Programs (ACP) website in its entirety to ensure
individual and unit nomination packages are created and submitted
in accordance with both the reference and the information contained
in this MARADMIN.
4.b. Award eligibility, criteria, and instructions for completing and
submitting nomination packages can be found on the HQMC AVN ACP
website at https://www.aviation.marines.mil/Branches/Aviation
-Manpower-and-Support-Branch/Aircrew-Programs/Marine-Corps-Aviation
-Awards/
4.c. Due to follow-on publication requirements, all photograph
submissions to HQMC AVN ACP shall be submitted IAW the guidelines
in the 2027 Marine Corps Aviation Awards Instructions located on the
website (item 4.b.).
4.d. Nomination packages must be received by HQMC AVN ACP NLT
16 January 2027. Due to the volume of award recommendations
received, late, incorrect, or incomplete nominations will not
be considered.
5. Release authorized by LtGen W. H. Swan, Deputy Commandant for
Aviation.