Solicitation for the 2026 Marine Corps Aviation Awards

1. Purpose.  To solicit nominations for the annual
Marine Corps Aviation Awards.  These prestigious awards recognize
those Marines and units that have distinguished themselves as the
best in Marine aviation during the award period from 1 January 2025
to 31 December 2025.
2. The 2026 Marine Corps Aviation Awards are listed below:
a. Alfred A. Cunningham Award- Marine Aviator of the Year
b. Robert Guy Robinson Award- Marine Naval Flight Officer of the
Year
c. James W. Frey Award- Marine Unmanned Aerial Systems Officer
of the year
d. Earle Hattaway Award- Marine Aviation Ground Officer of the Year
e. Robert F. Gibson Award- Marine Aviation Command and Control
Officer of the Year
f. Silver Hawk Award- Marine Aviator with earliest Designation Date
g. Frank E. Petersen Award- Marine Flight Student of the Year
h. Marion E. Carl Award- Marine Fleet Replacement Squadron
Instructor Pilot of the Year
i. Danny L. Radish Award- Marine Enlisted Aircrew of the Year
j. Pioneer Award- Marine Enlisted Unmanned Aerial Systems
Sensor Operator of the Year
k. Willie D. Sproule Award- Aviation Maintenance Marine of the
Year
l. Kenneth W. Southcomb Award- Aviation Supply Marine of the Year
m. Paul G. Vess Award- Avionics Marine of the Year
n. Gaines B. Gilbert Award- Aviation Ordnance Marine of the Year
o. Kenneth A. Innis Award- Aviation Command and Control Marine of
the Year
p. Jack W. Demmond Award- Aviation Ground Marine of the Year
q. Walter L. J. Bayler Award- Command and Control Electronic 
Maintenance Marine of the Year
r. Jeffrey S. Vogel Award- Ground Based Air Defense Marine of 
the Year
s. James E. Nicholson Award- Noncommissioned Officer Leadership 
Award
t. James Maguire Award- Exceptional Achievement
u. Michael A. Hough Acquisition Award- Acquisition Excellence in 
Marine Aviation
v. Commandant Aviation Trophy for Superior Performance in Marine 
Aviation
w. Robert M. Hanson Award- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron of the 
Year
x. Lawson H. M. Sanderson Award- Marine Attack Squadron of the Year  
y. Henry Wildfang Award- Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 
of the Year
z. Fred McCorkle Award- Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron of the Year 
aa. Keith B. McCutcheon Award- Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron of 
the Year
ab. John P. Giguere Award- Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 
of the Year
ac. John I. Hudson Award- Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron of
 the Year
ad. Donald E. Davis Award- Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron of 
the Year
ae. James E. Hatch Award- Marine Wing Support Squadron of the   
Year.
af. Edward S. Fris Award- Marine Air Command and Control Unit of 
the Year
ag. Pete Ross Award- Superior Performance in Marine Aviation 
Safety
3. Selection of award recipients will be made by an awards board 
convened by Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) Department of Aviation
(AVN) and will be comprised of senior members of the aviation
community. Announcement of award winners and details regarding
presentation of awards will be provided in future correspondence.
4. Action
a. Commands with personnel and/or organizations meeting the
criteria contained in the reference are encouraged to submit
nominations. Commands are directed to review the reference and HQMC
AVN Aircrew Programs (ACP) website in its entirety to ensure
individual and unit nomination packages are created and submitted
in accordance with both the reference and the information contained
in this MARADMIN.
b. Award eligibility, criteria, and instructions for completing and
submitting nomination packages can be found on the HQMC AVN ACP
website at https://www.aviation.marines.mil/Branches/Aviation
-Manpower-and-Support-Branch/Aircrew-Programs/Marine-Corps-Aviation
-Awards/
c. Due to follow on publication requirements, all photograph
submissions to HQMC AVN ACP shall be submitted IAW the guidelines
in the 2026 Marine Corps Aviation Awards Instructions located on the
website.
d. Nomination packages must be received by HQMC AVN ACP NLT
16 January 2026. Due to the volume of award recommendations
received, late, incorrect, or incomplete nominations will not
be considered. 
5. Release authorized by LtGen W. H. Swan,
Deputy Commandant for Aviation.