Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Douglas B. Wilson, the ceremony's guest speaker, recognized the award recipients for their outstanding achievements.
"Many of those being awarded here today are forward deployed, and it's a tribute to your dedication and professionalism that not only do you adhere to [DoD Principles of Information], you embody them," he said. "And the standards of excellence reflected in your work in the most difficult conditions is a credit to you, your units and the Defense Information School."
The school's hosting of the ceremony is the evolutionary result of three separate military schools combining into a single communications school in 1995 at Fort Meade.
Retired Navy Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Brien Aho, a DINFOS instructor, started competing in the photography part of the competition in 1998. He has won six first-place Military Photographer of the Year awards in various categories.
"I think if the students see that the instructor they have is considered one of the 'best,' then they will pay attention to that individual more and with more respect," Aho said. "I compete every year to see where I stand against my peers. And you're only as good as your last photo."
Winners were selected for Military Graphic Artist of the Year, Military Photographer of the Year, Military Videographer of the Year, and Thomas Jefferson Award winners in print and broadcast journalism. Their products include covering combat operations, humanitarian assistance, sporting events and daily military news events around the world.
"I want to congratulate all of the winners who have been honored here today," Keck said. "Thank you for all of the hours you've dedicated to perfect your craft in the public affairs and visual information communities. You have the incredible privilege of telling the story of the men and women who make up the Department of Defense team, and the products you produce consistently deliver immediate and lasting impacts."
Keck presented a total of 60 awards to winners representing all five service branches.
The awards programs date back to 1960 for military photojournalists and 1968 for the Thomas Jefferson Awards.
Another DINFOS instructor bringing home first place in the Military Graphic Artist of the Year competition wasn't born when either started.
"I don't think I could say that I'm the best in my career field," said Tech. Sgt. Kristi Machado, Digital Multimedia Course instructor. "I'm constantly learning from the people I work with, and I consider myself lucky to be able to work beside them. I consider them to be the best. These competitions are part of the growing process as a photographer, videographer, graphic artist or journalist. What I've learned, I'll do my best to share with my students and peers."
DINFOS graduates are working in a world in which communication is integral, Wilson said. Their efforts are not in a stovepipe, he noted, and are not a separate entity from all that is going on in the world. These respective career fields are part of the policy development, not an afterthought to it. They are an essential part of the military mission, not an adjunct.
"What you do here in the continental United States, and around the world -- very often in harm's way now -- to tell the story of our military for our internal and external audiences is critically important," Wilson said. "Your professional images and the reports you compile provide our internal audiences and the American people [with] the initial look into the most sensitive operations around the world."
One of the highlights of the annual ceremony was Air Force Master Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock's selection as the Military Photographer of the Year for an unprecedented fifth time. He won the award in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008, as well as runner-up honors in 2007 and 2009.
"I thrive on working stories, diving into each experience, and living for a moment in a world outside of my norm," Lock said. "It is an honor to be able to share my vision and, hopefully, foster awareness, understanding and empathy."
Department of Defense Communicators of Excellence Overall Award Winners:
* Military Graphic Artist of the Year
Marine Sgt. Shawn P. Sales
* Military Photographer of the Year
Air Force Master Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock
* Military Videographer of the Year
Air Force Staff Sgt. Burt Traynor
* Broadcast Journalist of the Year
Dave Annarino, Army, Defense Media Activity
* Print Journalist of the Year
Randy Roughton, Air Force, Defense Media Activity
* New Broadcaster of the Year
Airman 1st Class Tori Fleck
* New Writer of the Year
Marine Cpl. Reece E. Lodder
"Many of those being awarded here today are forward deployed, and it's a tribute to your dedication and professionalism that not only do you adhere to [DoD Principles of Information], you embody them," he said. "And the standards of excellence reflected in your work in the most difficult conditions is a credit to you, your units and the Defense Information School."
The school's hosting of the ceremony is the evolutionary result of three separate military schools combining into a single communications school in 1995 at Fort Meade.
Retired Navy Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Brien Aho, a DINFOS instructor, started competing in the photography part of the competition in 1998. He has won six first-place Military Photographer of the Year awards in various categories.
"I think if the students see that the instructor they have is considered one of the 'best,' then they will pay attention to that individual more and with more respect," Aho said. "I compete every year to see where I stand against my peers. And you're only as good as your last photo."
Winners were selected for Military Graphic Artist of the Year, Military Photographer of the Year, Military Videographer of the Year, and Thomas Jefferson Award winners in print and broadcast journalism. Their products include covering combat operations, humanitarian assistance, sporting events and daily military news events around the world.
"I want to congratulate all of the winners who have been honored here today," Keck said. "Thank you for all of the hours you've dedicated to perfect your craft in the public affairs and visual information communities. You have the incredible privilege of telling the story of the men and women who make up the Department of Defense team, and the products you produce consistently deliver immediate and lasting impacts."
Keck presented a total of 60 awards to winners representing all five service branches.
The awards programs date back to 1960 for military photojournalists and 1968 for the Thomas Jefferson Awards.
Another DINFOS instructor bringing home first place in the Military Graphic Artist of the Year competition wasn't born when either started.
"I don't think I could say that I'm the best in my career field," said Tech. Sgt. Kristi Machado, Digital Multimedia Course instructor. "I'm constantly learning from the people I work with, and I consider myself lucky to be able to work beside them. I consider them to be the best. These competitions are part of the growing process as a photographer, videographer, graphic artist or journalist. What I've learned, I'll do my best to share with my students and peers."
DINFOS graduates are working in a world in which communication is integral, Wilson said. Their efforts are not in a stovepipe, he noted, and are not a separate entity from all that is going on in the world. These respective career fields are part of the policy development, not an afterthought to it. They are an essential part of the military mission, not an adjunct.
"What you do here in the continental United States, and around the world -- very often in harm's way now -- to tell the story of our military for our internal and external audiences is critically important," Wilson said. "Your professional images and the reports you compile provide our internal audiences and the American people [with] the initial look into the most sensitive operations around the world."
One of the highlights of the annual ceremony was Air Force Master Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock's selection as the Military Photographer of the Year for an unprecedented fifth time. He won the award in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008, as well as runner-up honors in 2007 and 2009.
"I thrive on working stories, diving into each experience, and living for a moment in a world outside of my norm," Lock said. "It is an honor to be able to share my vision and, hopefully, foster awareness, understanding and empathy."
Department of Defense Communicators of Excellence Overall Award Winners:
* Military Graphic Artist of the Year
Marine Sgt. Shawn P. Sales
* Military Photographer of the Year
Air Force Master Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock
* Military Videographer of the Year
Air Force Staff Sgt. Burt Traynor
* Broadcast Journalist of the Year
Dave Annarino, Army, Defense Media Activity
* Print Journalist of the Year
Randy Roughton, Air Force, Defense Media Activity
* New Broadcaster of the Year
Airman 1st Class Tori Fleck
* New Writer of the Year
Marine Cpl. Reece E. Lodder
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