Navy Shore Enterprise names 2025 Sailor of the Year

WASHINGTON — The Navy on April 24 named Navy Counselor 1st Class Frederick L. Salazar of Naval District Washington as the 2025 Shore Enterprise Sailor of the Year, highlighting an enlisted leader whose work spans career development and education access across the service’s global shore network.

“The Shore Enterprise is the warfighting platform from which the fleet projects power,” said Vice Adm. Scott Gray, commander of Navy Installations Command. “The leaders we recognize today are the engine of that platform. They ensure our forces are ready, our families are supported, and our installations are resilient. NC1 Salazar’s dedication exemplifies the excellence required to maintain our strategic edge.”

Salazar, the region’s career counselor, was cited for guiding the professional growth of more than 1,000 Sailors at seven commands and for launching a first-of-its-kind testing center at Naval Air Station Patuxent River to expand educational opportunities. With the award, he will receive a meritorious promotion to chief petty officer.

“There are many people who helped me get here. My wife, daughter, and son have been my support since day one,” Salazar said. “But this recognition also belongs to my mentors and the junior Sailors who pushed me to be better every single day. Now the real work starts. This is where I move forward, take the lessons I’ve learned, and pay it forward to develop the next generation of Navy leaders.”

The honor caps an enterprise-wide competition that narrowed to four regional finalists. Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Frank Lorenzo Ayala, representing Navy Region Southeast, served as facility watch supervisor at Naval Station Mayport, overseeing more than 24,800 safe flight operations and helping coordinate the 2025 Mayport Air Show, which drew over 300,000 attendees.

Master-at-Arms 1st Class Emma L. Murray, the finalist for Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central, was the sole Military Working Dog kennel master across the U.S. Africa Command area, directing 20 teams that conducted more than 7,000 hours of explosive-detection work to protect over 5,300 personnel and key facilities.

From Navy Region Japan, Master-at-Arms 1st Class Anthony W. D. Revak served as physical security officer for Commander, Fleet Activities Okinawa, leading a security overhaul that earned a 95 percent compliance score on a major inspection and revamping the command’s fitness program to boost readiness.

CNIC Force Master Chief Andre Brown praised the finalists’ standards and commitment to mentorship, calling them leaders who will shape the Navy’s future. “Being recognized at this level means these Sailors standard-bearer for the entire enlisted force,” said Brown. “Every one of these finalists embodies our core values through their unrelenting dedication to the mission and, more importantly, to the development of their Sailors. They are exactly the kind of leaders we need shaping the future of our Navy.”

Commander, Navy Installations Command oversees shore installation management around the world, integrating infrastructure sustainment with quality-of-life programs in support of the fleet. The command manages 10 regions and 70 installations with a workforce of more than 48,600, focusing on warfighting readiness and the ability of the Shore Enterprise to equip and support naval operations.