Painting by Patrick O'Brien
The trustees of the
The National Maritime Historical Society
invite you to join us for the
2024 National Maritime Awards Dinner
National Press Club
Thursday, 18 April 2024
as we honor three esteemed award recipients
Major General Charles F. Bolden Jr., USMC (Ret.)
Dr. William S. Dudley
Dawn Riley
With Special Presentations from
Admiral Michael G. Mullen, USN. (Ret.), 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Dr. Jennifer London, Chair of the Navy League Foundation Board of Directors
Gary Jobson, America's Ambassador of Sailing
Dinner Chairs Samuel F. Byers and Kristen L. Greenaway along with NMHS Chair CAPT James A. Noone, USN (Ret.) look forward to welcoming you as the National Maritime Historical Society honors three outstanding maritime leaders. Join us for good cheer and camaraderie at the National Press Club as the Society once again hosts its National Maritime Awards Dinner. America's Ambassador of Sailing, Gary Jobson, will be the emcee. Entertainment will be provided by the US Coast Guard Academy Cadet Chorale, directed by Daniel McDavitt, DMA. The Combined Sea Services Color Guard will present the colors. Video presentations will be produced by award-winning documentarian and NMHS Vice Chair, Richardo R. Lopes, Executive Director of Voyage Digital Media, and photographer/editor, Alessandro Lopes. The NMHS Maritime Art Gallery, hosted by American Society of Marine Artists President, Patrick O'Brien, will feature a selection of contemporary maritime art for sale.
Major General Charles F. Bolden Jr., USMC (Ret.) will be presented with the 2024 NMHS Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his remarkable career as a US Marine aviator, astronaut, and Administrator of NASA. As an astronaut, Bolden logged 680 hours on four Space Shuttle missions. We salute his leadership roles as the Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy and as the Commanding General of Operation Desert Thunder in Kuwait. Bolden’s tenure at NASA heightened the agency's focus on Mars and deep space exploration, leaving an enduring legacy in the field of space exploration and scientific advancement. His election to the National Academy of Engineering in 2020 further demonstrates the impact of his work on human spaceflight and space operations programs, as well as his contributions to revitalizing fundamental aeronautics research. Admiral Michael G. Mullen, USN (Ret.), 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will present the award.
Dr. William S. Dudley will be presented with the 2024 NMHS David A. O’Neil Sheet Anchor Award for his twelve years of service as an NMHS Trustee and Trustee Liaison on the Editorial Advisory Committee for Sea History magazine. Dudley served in the Navy, earned his doctorate at Columbia, and was director of the Naval Historical Center in Washington, DC, from 1995 to 2004, now the Naval History and Heritage Command. He is a former historian general of the Naval Order of the United States. Dudley is a pre-eminent War of 1812 scholar, author, and lead editor of several books. Dudley has served as president of the American Revolution Roundtable, president of the Society for History in the Federal Government, and president of the North American Society for Oceanic History. Dr. Jennifer London, Chair of the Navy League Foundation Board of Directors, will present the award.
Dawn Riley will be presented with the 2024 NMHS Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her remarkable sailing career, particularly her role as mentor and educator, training premier-level American sailors for future Olympic, America's Cup, and world-class sailing competitions. Dawn Riley is an expert big-boat and match-racing sailor. She was the first woman to manage an entire America’s Cup syndicate, the first American — man or woman — to sail in four America’s Cups and two Whitbread Round the World races. As the Executive Director of Oakcliff Sailing, Riley is leading the movement to reinvigorate the sport of sailing. Riley’s notoriety, excellence as a sailor, and dual induction into the National Sailing Hall of Fame and the America's Cup Hall of Fame as the youngest and sole female "dual-famer" is an inspiration to many. Gary Jobson, America's Ambassador of Sailing, will present the award.
The National Maritime Historical Society is in the unique position of being able to focus attention and recognition on innovative programs and effective leaders in the maritime heritage field through its awards program. Through these awards, we demonstrate that positive strides can be made in preserving our important maritime heritage, and encourage others to follow the example set by our honorees. The National Maritime Awards Dinner draws together distinguished leaders from across the country – Senators and Congressmen, boat builders and designers, maritime artists and authors, maritime industry executives, sea explorers and yachtsmen, military sea services leaders, and maritime educators. It will be a wonderful evening uniting all those who love the sea to honor those who serve it.
Hotel Block: NMHS has reserved a block of rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn at 815 14th Street NW, two blocks from the National Press Club, from 17-19 April at $309 per night (plus applicable taxes). This rate is available until March 27th or until sold out.
Sponsorship Opportunities
$50,000 Underwriter
- Premium table for 10 guests
- Recognition from the podium with audio/visual & signage at the event
- Full-page advertisements in Sea History magazine
- Recognition in the dinner program
- Recognition on the Society’s website, press releases, mailings, and email announcements
- Membership for 10 in NMHS, including the Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM) card for free admission to America’s leading maritime museums
$25,000 Event Marquee Sponsor
- Premium table for 10 guests
- Recognition from the podium with audio/visual & signage at the event
- Full-page advertisements in Sea History magazine
- Recognition in the dinner program
- Recognition on the Society’s website, press releases, mailings, and email announcements
- Membership for 10 in NMHS, including the Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM) card for free admission to America’s leading maritime museums
$15,000 Fleet Sponsor
- Premium table for 10 guests
- Recognition from the podium with audio/visual & signage at the event
- Full-page advertisement in Sea History magazine
- Recognition in the dinner program
- Recognition on the Society’s website, press releases, mailings and email announcements
- Membership for 10 in NMHS, including the Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM) card for free admission to America’s leading maritime museums
$10,000 Commodore Sponsor
- Premium table for 10 guests
- Recognition from the podium with audio/visual & signage at the event
- Full-page advertisement in Sea History magazine
- Recognition in the dinner program
- Recognition on the Society’s website, press releases, mailings, and email announcements
- Membership for 10 in NMHS, including the Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM) card for free admission to America’s leading maritime museums
$7,000 Reception Sponsor
- Premium table for 10 guests
- Recognition from the podium with audio/visual & signage at the event
- Full-page advertisement in Sea History magazine
- Recognition in the dinner program
- Recognition on the Society’s website, press releases, mailings and email announcements
- Membership for 10 in NMHS, including the Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM) card for free admission to America’s leading maritime museums
$5,000 Thank You/Favor Sponsor
- Two tickets
- Recognition from the podium with audio/visual & signage at the event
- Recognition in the dinner program
- Recognition on the Society’s website, press releases, mailings and email announcements
- Membership for 2 in NMHS, including the Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM) card for free admission to America’s leading maritime museums
$4,000 Table Host
- Table for 10 guests
- Recognition from the podium with audio/visual & signage at the event
- Recognition in the dinner program
- Recognition on the Society’s website
- Membership for 10 in NMHS, including the Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM) card for free admission to America’s leading maritime museums
$1,000 Individual Sponsor
- VIP seating for 2 guests
- Recognition in the dinner program
- Recognition on the Society’s website
- Membership for 2 in NMHS, including the Council of American Maritime Museums (CAMM) card for free admission to America’s leading maritime museums
$400 Individual Dinner Reservation
- 1 individual dinner reservation
To Register contact Wendy Paggiotta at 914-737-7878 ext 557
We Gratefully Appreciate our Sponsors
Commodore Sponsor: William H. White
Table Hosts: Major General Charles F. Bolden Jr., USMC (Ret.) ∙ The Byers Family ∙ VADM Dirk Debbink, USN (Ret.) ∙ Dr. William S. & Donna Dudley ∙ VADM Al Konetzni Jr., USN (Ret.) ∙ McAllister Towing ∙ CAPT James A. Noone, USN (Ret.) ∙ Ronald L. Oswald ∙ Dr. Timothy J. & Laurie Runyan ∙ U.S. Naval Institute ∙ Philip J. & Irmy Webster
Individual Sponsors: ASRC Federal & Scott Altman ∙ American Maritime Congress ∙ Classic Harbor Line & Richard Scarano ∙ James Cheevers ∙ CAPT Dennis Hickey IV, USN (Ret.) ∙ CDR Sarah Higgins, USN (Ret.) ∙ RADM Eric C. Jones, USCG (Ret.) & CDR Christina Wenderoth, USCG (Ret.) ∙ Joanne O'Neil ∙ SEACORP ∙ The Smith Appellate Law Firm & Michael Smith ∙ The Stobart Foundation & Anne Fletcher ∙ United States Navy Memorial ∙ US Sailing ∙ Andrew Vinson ∙ Women's Sports Foundation
Donors: Charles B. Anderson ∙ The Association of Maryland Pilots & Capt. Eric Nielsen ∙ CAPT Sally McElwreath Callo, USN (Ret.) & RADM Joseph Callo Jr., USN (Ret.) ∙ Joseph W. Zarzynski
2024 National Maritime Awards Dinner Committee
Dinner Chairs
Samuel F. Byers and Kristen L. Greenaway
Charles B. Anderson ∙ Capt. Jonathan Boulware ∙ Walter R. Brown ∙ Dr. Robert Browning ∙ CAPT Patrick Burns, USN (Ret.) ∙ RADM Joseph F. Callo, USN (Ret.) ∙ CAPT Sally McElwreath Callo, USN (Ret.) ∙ Gerald Cooper ∙ James Seay Dean ∙ VADM Dirk J. Debbink, USN (Ret.) ∙ Paul Fontenoy ∙ David S. Fowler ∙ Rilla Gaither ∙ Burchenal Green ∙ Cathy Green ∙ Jay Haigler ∙ Karen Helmerson ∙ CDR Sarah Higgins, USN (Ret.) ∙ Howard H. Hoege III ∙ Barb Hollinger ∙ Gary Jobson ∙ Dr. Paul F. Johnston ∙ VADM Al Konetzni, USN (Ret.) ∙ K. Denise Rucker Krepp ∙ Richardo R. Lopes ∙ Guy E. C. Maitland ∙ CDR James Mathieu, USCG (Ret.) ∙ Capt. Jeffrey McAllister ∙ Elizabeth McCarthy ∙ Shannon McKenzie ∙ Drew McMullen ∙ Capt. James McNamara ∙ Dr. Salvatore Mercogliano ∙ Kathy J. Metcalf ∙ Capt. Eric Nielsen ∙ CAPT James A. Noone, USN (Ret.) ∙ Patrick O' Brien ∙ Ronald L. Oswald ∙ Wendy Paggiotta ∙ Kristen Pisani ∙ Christopher Rowsom ∙ Dr. Timothy J. Runyan ∙ Kamau Sadiki ∙ Richard Scarano ∙ Philip J. Shapiro ∙ Irmy Webster ∙ Philip J. Webster ∙ William H. White ∙ David F. Winkler