America’s Navy:
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (NNS) — Chief Fire Controlman (Aegis) Zachary Quirk was honored as the Navy’s Missile Defender of the Year at the annual Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance (MDAA) awards banquet in Alexandria, Virginia, Jan. 12. Quirk is assigned to USS Russell (DDG 59) homeported in San Diego.
Rear Adm. Johnny Wolfe Jr., Program Executive for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) presented the award alongside Riki Ellison, founder and chairman of MDAA. Quirk was recognized along with Army 1st. Lt. Benjamin Schiff, Air Force Lt. Col. Rocco Angiolelli, and Army National Guard Capt. Jason Brewer – recipients of the same honor within their respective branches of service.
Nominees are active duty or reserve officers and enlisted personnel from each branch of service who work within missile defense and are nominated by their peers and commanding officers. Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center – the Surface Navy’s Warfighting Development Center (WDC) – reviews nomination packages and selects the recipient of the award each year. Information about award nomination details and deadlines for submission are distributed annually by naval message.
