The announcement came in NAVADMIN 233/22, issued on 12 October.
The annual award recognizes commanders who demonstrate inspirational leadership both professionally and personally, while contributing to the improvement of leadership in the Navy. It is peer-driven, as only those who are eligible for the award themselves are allowed to nominate others for consideration.
Thomas is the former commanding officer of the King Bay, Ga.-based ballistic missile submarine USS Alaska’s Gold Crew (SSBN 732), which he commanded from May 17, 2019, to Nov. 22, 2021. He is currently assigned to the Strategic Systems Program in Washington, D.C.
Thomas, of Ann Arbor, Mich., is a graduate of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Michigan. He was commissioned on 26 April 2002, and is a career submarine with sea trips on four boats. Ashore, he has done tours with the Department of Energy and at the U.S. Strategic Command in Nebraska.
Keefe, of Cincinnati, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned on May 27, 2005. He is currently the commander of the Guam-based Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit Five (EODMU 5).
After completing diving and surface warfare officer schools, Keefe first served as the leader of the Mine Countermeasure Crew. In 2008, he qualified as an explosive ordnance officer and has operated in all geographic combatant commands while countering improvised explosive devices, underwater mines and weapons of mass destruction, according to his official biography.
Ashore Keefe has been an instructor at the Naval Academy; an aide to then-Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michelle Howard at the Pentagon; and at the Joint Special Operations Command as EOD Branch Chief.
The award was first awarded in 1980, and is named after the late vice adm. James Bond Stockdale, a Naval Academy graduate and naval aviator. On September 9, 1965, Stockdale was commander of Carrier Air Group 16, which flew from the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CV 34). A veteran of over 200 combat missions at the time, Stockdale’s A-4E Skyhawk was hit by enemy fire over North Vietnam. Forced to eject, he landed in a small village and was captured.
A prisoner for eight years, Stockdale was the highest-ranking naval officer among the Americans held captive in North Vietnamese prisons. As a prime example, Stockdale resisted his captors from the start, establishing a culture of defiance among the POWs. His efforts to promote resistance led to him and ten other senior POWs being separated from the rest to break down the American chain of command among prisoners.
Stockdale was frequently tortured and spent two years in heavy leg irons and a total of four years in solitary confinement. He did not waver. He led the POW culture of defiance, finding ways to communicate and manage prisoners’ behavior, inspiring hope in his fellow prisoners.
His inspirational leadership continued throughout his incarceration until his release in February 1973. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1976 and served as President of the Naval War College from October 1977 to August 1979.
Stockdale articulated five roles for a leader: moralist, jurist, teacher, administrator, and philosopher.
Eligible for the award are Navy commanders on active duty and below in command of a single ship, submarine, aviation squadron, sea, air, land team, naval special warfare squadron, SEAL delivery vehicle team, special boat team, explosive ordnance disposal mobile unit, mobile diving and salvage unit , or the Navy’s Special Clearance Team.
This year’s selection committee was presented with ten finalists, from which the two winners were selected.
The other eight finalists deserve special mention:
Cmdr. Robert J. McDowell, Commanding Officer, USS JEFFERSON CITY (SSN 759)
Cmdr. Travis A. Montplaisir, Commanding Officer, USS HOWARD (DDG 83)
Cmdr. Eric M. Ponsart, Commander, Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron FEM NUL (VRM 50)
Cmdr. Joseph W. Snyder, Commanding Officer, Patrol Squadron FOUR SIX (VP 46)
Cmdr. Brian A. Forster, Commander, USS MILWAUKEE (LCS 5)
Cmdr. Alexander P. Armatas, Commanding Officer, Strike Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO FIVE (VFA 105)
Cmdr. Thomas H. Van Hoozer, Commanding Officer, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron FIVE (HSC 5)
Cmdr. Bennett M. Christman, Commanding Officer, USS NEW HAMPSHIRE (SSN 778)
