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| Courtesy Photo | Information Warfare Training Command Virginia Beach Command Logo |
10.27.2016
Courtesy Story
Center for Information Warfare Training
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - A Tulsa, Oklahoma Sailor from Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Virginia Beach was recognized for his volunteer firefighting service during a Suffolk, Virginia, awards ceremony, Oct. 27.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Eddie Smith, who serves as the training directorate leading chief petty officer and course supervisor for the Electronic Warfare Applications (Advanced) "C" school, was named the city's Volunteer Firefighter of the Year.
“Volunteering means a lot to me, said Smith. “I enjoy giving back and investing in the community that I live in. The award shows that, no matter what your particular occupation is, you can always invest time, give back, and get recognized for your service.”
A member of the Whaleyville Volunteer Fire Department (WVFD) 8 team since 2011, Smith is certified as a firefighter and a fire instructor by the state of Virginia. He leads one of WVFD 8's three equipment readiness teams to ensure the manning and readiness of the department's fire engine, tanker and brush truck. He and other volunteers work alongside Suffolk career firefighters.
Smith's military experience in the cryptology field as part of the Navy's information warfare (IW) community also allows him to provide the Whaleyville volunteers with computer and technical expertise, as well as apply the training skills he has learned in the Navy to helping prepare other firefighters.
“I enjoy learning skills that directly translate both in and out of uniform,” said Smith, who is also a Navy Senior Enlisted Academy graduate. “I am able to use my master training specialist skills as a fire instructor and the skills that I learned as a civilian firefighter to help reinforce my basic damage control and shipboard firefighting skill set.”
Smith was recognized for his volunteer contributions last year as well with the 2015 WVFD chief's award.
“I highly encourage finding something that you enjoy doing, or are interested in doing,” said Smith. “You never know who you may inspire or how your volunteer work may help an organization.”
Center for Information Warfare Training delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services, enabling optimal performance of information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.
For more news from Center for Information Warfare Training enterprise, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/cid/, http://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ceninfodom/, http://www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or http://www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.
