Fiscal Year 2026 Copernicus Award Nomination

1. The Copernicus Award recognizes individual
contributions to naval warfare in command, control, communications,
computers, and intelligence (C4I), information systems,
cyber operations, and information warfare. The award is sponsored by
Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA)
International and the United States Naval Institute (USNI).
2.  Award Criteria and Eligibility. Fiscal Year 2026 nominees must 
have made a specific, demonstrable contribution to the advancement 
of C4I, information systems, or cyber operations. Contributions can 
be technical in nature but may also originate from doctrinal, 
financial, organizational, or other dimensions of information
systems. The contribution should involve exceptional initiative,
leadership, and insight within the nominee's area of expertise.
All U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, 
and civil service personnel are eligible for nomination.
Up to 30 awardees will be selected. 
Each nominating command is limited to two nominees. No contractor or 
team (more than one person) nominations will be accepted. 
Nominations must be unclassified.
3.  Nominations and Presentation. The awardees will be selected from
nominations received from U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S.
Coast Guard (including joint/North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
commands, afloat and ashore. Nominations must be on letterhead,
e submitted by email in PDF format, and must not contain any 
personally identifiable information. Nominations for commanding 
officers or officers-in-charge must be signed by their immediate 
superior in command. Flag endorsements and letters of recommendation 
are neither required nor desired. The nomination template and
additional nomination package information, as well as the most 
up-to-date point of contact information, can be found at 
https://www.afcea.org/copernicus-award, along with award information. 
Nominations must be submitted no later than 1 November 2026 to
edfoundation@afcea.org. Late nominations will not be considered.
4.  AFCEA International and USNI will make the final selections. 
The Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare will 
announce the awardees via naval message. The annual Copernicus Awards 
Ceremony will be held at the AFCEA International/USNI WEST 2027
Conference in San Diego, California, at the San Diego Convention 
Center.
5.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Joseph A. Matos III,
Headquarters Marine Corps, Deputy Commandant for Information.