Announcement of the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 LtCol William G. Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership Selection Board

1. Situation. This MARADMIN announces the
convening of the 2026 Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol) William
G. Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership selection
board and solicits nominations from throughout the Marine
Corps. The LtCol William G. Leftwich Trophy for
Outstanding Leadership is an award presented annually in
memory of Navy Cross recipient LtCol William G. Leftwich,
U.S. Marine Corps, killed in action in the Republic of
Vietnam on 18 November 1970. The Deputy Commandant for
Plans, Policies, and Operations (DC, PP&O) will convene a
board of senior field grade officers in early March 2027
to review nominations and forward recommendations to the
Commandant of the Marine Corps for final selection and
announcement of the winner.
2. Mission. IAW Ref A, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces
Command (COMMARFORCOM); Commander, U.S. Marine Corps
Forces Pacific (COMMARFORPAC); and Commander, U.S. Marine
Corps Forces Reserve (COMMARFORRES) shall nominate
eligible officers for the 2026 LtCol William G. Leftwich
Trophy for Outstanding Leadership and submit nomination
packages to DC, PP&O NLT 19 February 2027.
3. Execution.
3.a. Prerequisites. Per the reference, commanders will use
the following prerequisites to submit nominations:
3.a.1. Actions included in each nomination must have
occurred within the period of eligibility
(January-December 2026).
3.a.2. Nominees must be Marine Captains in the Ground
Combat Arms community serving on active duty as a company
or battery commander within the Ground Combat Element of
the Operating Forces during the period of eligibility.
3.a.3. Majors and Major selectees are eligible for
nomination, provided the actions of the nominee occurred
as a Captain during the period of eligibility. Only
actions performed as a Captain will be included in the
nomination package and considered by the selection board.
3.a.4. Nominees must not be previous recipients of the
LtCol William G. Leftwich Trophy. Officers previously
nominated but not selected are eligible for subsequent
nominations if they still meet award criteria.
3.a.5. Nominations may be submitted posthumously, provided
the officer nominated would meet eligibility and award
criteria in Para 4 of the Ref.
3.a.6. Nominees should be recognized by seniors,
contemporaries, and subordinates as officers who most
exemplify outstanding combat arms leadership.
3.a.7. Nominees must clearly and distinguishably
demonstrate the ideals of courage, resourcefulness,
perseverance, and concern for the well-being of the Corps
and their fellow Marines.
3.a.8. Nominees must have exhibited qualities that have
made an outstanding contribution to the development of
esprit de corps and loyalty within their units.
3.a.9. Nominees, through personal example, must set the
standard that all other officers seek to emulate.
3.b. Requirements.
3.b.1. COMMARFORCOM and COMMARFORPAC shall nominate two
(2) officers from each MEF and COMMARFORRES may nominate
two (2) officers that have met award eligibility criteria
outlined in para
3.a. and in the reference during the eligibility period.
3.b.2. Commanders shall submit nominations NLT 19 February
2027 to DC, PP&O.
3.b.3. Nominations will consist of the following:
3.b.3.a An official photograph of the nominee taken within
12 months of the convening date of the award board.
3.b.3.b. Biographical information of the nominee.
3.b.3.c. Summary of performance during the eligibility
period supporting the nominee's qualifications for the
award.
4. Administration and logistics.
4.a. DC, PP&O (POF) will process the nomination packages.
Packages will include the nominating unit's address, point
of contact, and phone number (Comm and DSN). Packages may
be submitted via email by Commanders identified in Para
3.b.1. Packages must be received by DC, PP&O (POF) NLT 19
February 2027 to be considered.
4.a.1. Nomination packages submitted via email must be
sent to all message POCs listed above.
4.a.1.a. Submit package as a .pdf file. Ensure entire
package is legible after scanning.
4.b. Nomination packages for deployed Marines should be
routed through the Marine's deployed chain of command
(e.g. UDP infantry battalions will be reviewed and
submitted through 4th MAR, 3d MARDIV, and III MEF).
5. Command and Signal.
5.a. This MARADMIN is applicable to the total force.
5.b. Ensure widest dissemination of the contents of this
msg.
5.c. Direct all questions regarding this MARADMIN to the
POCs listed above.
6. Release authorized by BGen Michael R. Nakonieczny,
Director, Operations Division, Plans, Policies, and
Operations.