2017 Annual Awards Dinner – November 1, 2017

JINSA’s 35th Annual Awards Dinner took place on November 1, 2017 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC.

JINSA presented the Henry M. Jackson Distinguished Service Award to:

Chairman Michael T. McCaul
Congressman Eliot Engel
Mr. Sander Gerber

JINSA’s 35th Annual Awards Dinner took place on November 1, 2017 at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC.

JINSA presented the Henry M. Jackson Distinguished Service Award to:

Chairman Michael T. McCaul
Congressman Eliot Engel
Mr. Sander Gerber

The award enables JINSA to recognize and thank those leaders whose careers have been distinguished by the principle that is the foundation of JINSA’s work: the belief that the United States requires a strong military capability for both its own security and for that of trustworthy friends and allies. This was the cornerstone of the late Senator Jackson’s visionary policy and it guides JINSA today.

The same evening, we also presented the 2017 Grateful Nation Award to six young warriors recognized for having distinguished themselves through superior conduct and exceptional service.

The 2017 Grateful Nation Award honorees were:

Master Sergeant Michael B. Woodman
United States Army

Gunnery Sergeant Patricia L. Reynolds
United States Marine Corps

Lieutenant Andrew J. Lang
United States Navy

Maritime Enforcement Specialist Chief Robert M. Freeman
United States Coast Guard

Senior Master Sergeant Howard T. Loughran
United States Air Force

Staff Sergeant Alan A. Gonzales, USAF
United States Special Operations Command

2017 Sponsors

Host Committee

Platinum
Dr. Matthew and Susan Berger
Leon and Elaine Ellman & Family
Tracy and Sander Gerber
Catherine and David P. Steinmann
Colleen A. Edwards, M.D. and Joel M. Zinberg, M.D., J.D.

Gold
Bryna and Joshua Landes & Family

Silver
Lester Crown
Leena and Erwin Groner
Lisa and Michael Leffell
Jodi Redgate and Larry Siedlick
Steven Wells

JINSA’s 2017 Grateful Nation Award Advisory Board

The Grateful Nation Award, established in 2003, is presented annually to six young heroes recognized for having distinguished themselves through superior conduct in the War on Terrorism. Honorees are nominated and selected by their respective service. The honorees come from the enlisted, noncommissioned officer and junior officer ranks. Honorees represent each of the five branches of the U.S. military and the U.S. Special Operations Command.

GEN. James D. Thurman, USA (ret.)
LTG. Mick Bednarek, USA (ret.)
LtGen Frederick McCorkle, USMC (ret.)
ADM Mark P. Fitzgerald, USN (ret.)
VADM Peter V. Neffenger, USCG (ret.)
RADM William F. Merlin, USCG (ret.)
Lt Gen Michael Gould, USAF (ret.)
MG. Sid Shachnow, USA (ret.)

We would like to thank Adm. Leon “Bud” Edney, USN (ret.), Lt. Gen. Charles A. May, Jr. USAF (ret.), R. Adm. William F. Merlin, USCG (ret.), and Gen. Louis C. Wagner, Jr., USA (ret.) for their many years of dedication and service to JINSA.

For information on sponsorship of the 2018 Annual Awards Dinner, please contact Harris Vederman at (202) 667-3900 or hvederman@jinsa.org