VADM Levering Smith Award
Established in 1986, the Vice Admiral Levering Smith Award for Submarine Support Achievement recognizes specific or continuing submarine support actions which have most contributed to the furtherance of the spirit or fighting mettle of the Submarine Force. Submarine support actions shall include service in submarine support activities, submarine maintenance and training activities, and other such activities engaged in direct support of the operating Submarine Force.
2023 Awardee: CTTC(SG/IW) Daryl F. Maynes, USN
for outstanding meritorious service as Electronic Warfare Development and Support Analyst at the Undersea Warfighting Development Center Norfolk.
Chief Maynes’ personal efforts improved Submarine Force combat capabilities to deal with capable high-end electronic warfare adversaries. He was selected as a member of Submarine Force Tactical Readiness Evaluation Teams to evaluate crew’s electronic warfare knowledge and performance and provided critical training for watch teams in submarines preparing for deployment. He introduced carry-on-equipment used for schoolhouse and on-board electronic warfare training and developed an advanced electronic warfare signal generator that is used as a training aid by crews during their deployment preparation periods. Chief Maynes played a key role in providing valuable insight in the development and assessment of future submarine electronic support systems. His personal effort resulted in a revolution across all system displays which improved workflow, providing rapid threat signal recognition and analysis. He developed a robust electronic warfare test and evaluation scenario to assess the effectiveness of shipboard electronic warfare systems.
Chief Maynes is most deserving of recognition by the Naval Submarine League to receive the Vice Admiral Levering Smith Award for Submarine Professional Excellence.
Previous Awardees
2022 |
LCDR Nicholas D. Chiudioni, USN |
2019 |
SSC(SS) Kip C. Farrell, USN |
2016 |
LCDR William C. McBride, USN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 |
LCDR Andrew Regalado, USN |
2018 |
MTCS Jeremy Reardon, USN |
2015 |
LT Jason D. Baker, USN |
2020 |
ETRCS(SS) Andrew J. Enholm, USN |
2017 |
LT Zachary J. Prefontaine, USN |
2014 |
LT Mark S. Williams, USN |
Vice Admiral Levering Smith
Levering Smith graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1932. During World War II, he participated in campaigns and engagements in the Pacific including the Battles of Santa Cruz and Lunga Point, and surviving the sinkings of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet and the cruiser USS Northampton. He also took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea in the cruiser USS Indianapolis.
Admiral Smith’s contribution to the promotion of technology began after his distinguished WWII service with his assignment to the Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, California. In that work, he concluded that a small, solid propellant missile would be the logical choice for surface ship and submarine launching. This work propelled him into the pursuit of a viable strategic deterrent for the nation and caused the disbanding of the joint Army-Navy Committee pursuing the application of a liquid fueled missile. Admiral Smith was appointed Technical Director of the Navy’s Special Projects Office, which was given complete responsibility for the Polaris Program.
The years that followed, with Admiral Smith as Technical Director, then Director of the Strategic Systems Project Office, saw the deployment of an operational system in just four years. After Polaris came the Poseidon and Trident Programs, each developing a set of technologies crucial to the success of these strategic force elements. Admiral Levering Smith, more than any other individual, was responsible for the successful marriage of the ballistic missile with the nuclear submarine. His early pioneering in large solid propellant motors made the submarine launched ballistic missile a safe and practical reality. His technical direction in advancing technology of solid propellants, electronics and weight reducing materials led to increased range and payload that made the Fleet Ballistic Missile the most survivable of our strategic forces. His management practices focused the efforts of a highly successful and enduring government and industry team on common goals with clearly understood priorities.