MILITARY

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Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class Shaun Thomas of Naval Base Coronado.

Top sailor

Local award leads to possibility of promotion

By MICHELLE DELANEY

When Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class Shaun Thomas was named Naval Base Coronado’s Sailor of the Year for fiscal year 2021, it was a major step to becoming the Navy’s top sailor in the country.

The next step was the Navy Region Southwest competition held in San Diego on April 13, where he competed against 10 other candidates from installations across the Southwest.

Although Thomas did not win that competition (the honor went to Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Samuel Zacarias from Naval Air Station Lemoore near Fresno), he’s still a winner to his team and his chief petty officer — and he’s still the top sailor at Naval Base Coronado.

The 33-year-old Thomas is responsible for law enforcement and force protection on the base. Thomas, along with his chief petty officer, command a group of 70 sailors. The team operates as the primary law enforcement organization of the base and regularly coordinates with the Coronado police as well as counter terrorism and other military units.

Thomas credited his security team for his selection as Sailor of the Year.

“My sailors’ success is what has made me successful,” he said. “Receiving this award is a direct reflection of my leadership and the hard work my sailors put forth alongside me on board Naval Base Coronado.”

To compete for Sailor of the Year, service members must be nominated by their chief. Thomas was initially nominated for Sailor of Quarter by Chief Petty Officer Cindy Howard. He won that designation for the third quarter of the 2021 fiscal year (which runs from October 2020 to September 2021) and was then

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Shaun Thomas answers questions from a board of installation Command Master Chiefs on April 13 in his bid to become Navy Region Southwest Sailor of the Year.

nominated a second time by Howard for Sailor of the Year.

Thomas was up against four other sailors for the honor. They competed on such markers as command impact, exemplary personal conduct and participation in community service activities.

Thomas enjoys the community aspect of his job, which has included organizing and executing several beach cleanups around Coronado and partnering with community groups for memorial events. On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Thomas and his group partnered with the Rotary Club of Coronado at the Hotel del Coronado for a memorial honoring first responders.

More recently, Thomas’ security team navigated a situation on base that involved the military police, K-9 force, U.S. Border Patrol, Federal Fire Department, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialists, FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Being a sailor in a leadership position

“His ability for self-reflection sets him apart from his peers. He doesn’t categorize his mistakes but rather asks what he can do better today.”

CHIEF PETTY OFFICER CINDY HOWARD

COURTESY OF SHAUN THOMAS

Shaun Thomas, who is responsible for law enforcement and force protection on Naval Base Coronado, with his children.

means to “go above” your normal duties, Thomas said. It also means to practice both mentoring and understanding, he added.

Thomas, a native of Sacramento, headed to Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, on a basketball scholarship. After his time in Bozeman, he was not entirely sure of his next step but was greatly influenced by his Marine brotherin-law, Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Cork.

“Over time, as I witnessed the hard work, determination and dedication of my brother-in-law, Kevin, I decided to join the military,” Thomas said. In May 2013, at age 24, he enlisted in the Navy.

“His ability for self-reflection sets him apart from his peers. He doesn’t categorize his mistakes but rather asks what he can do better today,” Howard said.

Howard credits Thomas’ leadership with taking the Coronado base’s security department from one without recognition to one where its sailors have received multiple promotions, awards and accomplishments. Howard gives even higher praise for Thomas’ work with his junior sailors.

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“My sailors’ success is what has made me successful,” said Shaun Thomas (far left) who with his chief petty officer commands 70 sailors.

“The taking-care-of-his-sailors piece comes naturally to him. He takes the lead completely and motivates his juniors to do the same. And he does all of this while simultaneously thinking entirely of command interests,” she said.

Howard believes Thomas’ efforts will pay off.

“Now that the regional process is over, all board-eligible E-6s are submitting packages for chief and to go under the chief’s selection process,” Thomas said, referring to his current paygrade.

His package for the selection board to become chief petty officer will be ready by the end of June. ■

Michelle Delaney is a freelance writer.