Navy announces 2018 Stockdale Leadership Award recipients

04 September 2018

From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

Cmdr. Michael T. Lisa, former commanding officer of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135, is the Pacific Fleet recipient of the award.

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A file photo of the plaques presented to the 2017 Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Leadership Award recipients. (U.S. Navy/MC1 Nathan Laird)

WASHINGTON - Navy announced the two 2018 Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Leadership Award recipients in NAVADMIN 216/18.

Cmdr. Michael T. Lisa, former commanding officer of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135, is the Pacific Fleet recipient and Cmdr. Allen M. Siegrist, commanding officer of USS James E. Williams (DDG 95), is the Fleet Forces recipient.

The two recipients were nominated by their peers, who were also eligible for the award, and chosen from among seven finalists to receive the award.

The Stockdale award was established in honor of Vice Adm. Stockdale whose distinguished naval career symbolized the highest standards of excellence in both personal conduct and leadership. It is presented annually to two commissioned officers on active duty in the grade of commander or below who are serving in command of a single ship, submarine, aviation squadron, Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) team, naval special warfare squadron, SEAL delivery vehicle team, special boat team, explosive ordnance disposal mobile unit, mobile diving and salvage unit, or Navy special clearance team and who serve as examples of excellence in leadership and conspicuous contribution to the improvement of leadership in the Navy.

Lisa and Siegrist are scheduled to receive their awards from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson at a ceremony tentatively scheduled for Nov. 14, 2018, in the Pentagon.

Vice Adm. James Bond Stockdale, for whom the Stockdale Award is named, articulated five roles for a leader -- moralist, jurist, teacher, steward and philosopher.

A Naval Academy graduate and pilot, Stockdale ejected from his A-4E Skyhawk over North Vietnam in September 1965. He was captured and while held prisoner served as an inspiring leader to his fellow prisoners until his release in February 1973. He received the Medal of Honor in 1976 and served as president of the Naval War College from October 1977 until August 1979.

He died in 2005 and is buried at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He is survived by his three sons and eight grandchildren.