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2025 Uss Gonzalez Leadership Awards

The annual events for presentation of the Class ’66 Leadership Awards to a USS GONZALEZ junior officer and an enlisted sailor occurred Tuesday and Wednesday, 16 and 17 September 2025.

The annual Class ’66 USS GONZALEZ (DDG 66) Leadership Award two-day event got underway at 1700, Tuesday, 16 September 2025. Underway (in Navy context) was the operative word. Twenty-one Classmates, spouses, widows and SO’s sloshed and waded through a non-hurricane heaviest rain, Virginia Beach has not experienced in decades (over 7 inches), to gather at Trudy Hoff’s (Mick (29th) home.

This evening’s event was held to welcome into town Classmate VADM Al Knoetzni (36th) who would present the Leadership Award on board GONZALEZ the following day.

Attending the evening were: Tony (14th) and Linda Franzitta, Ken (15th) Hoff, (not related to Trudy)and daughter Melinda, Charlie (20th) and Peggy Pfeiffer, Rob (3rd) and Joyce Ploeger, John (6th) Sigler, Bob (15th) Titcomb and Carole Steinberg, and Charlie (17th) and Sharon Votava.

The out of area group; Jim Cowardin (31st) , Scott (15th) and Dervilla Gordon, Linda McCook (Kevin (21st), Marline Mervine (Mike Cuddington (17th), and Lori Scarbrough (Bob (7th); made this the largest gathering of any previous year. The number would have been even greater, except that emergent events caused Missy Knontzni, Mary Mobley (Joe (4th), Gail Sigler, Jim (20th) and Marjorie Powell, and Tom (16th) and Fay Martin to cancel.

At 1000 Wednesday morning, 17 September 2025 Classmates Al Konetzni (36th), Jim Cowardin (31st), Scott Gordon (15th), Chuck Grutzius (33rd), Charlie Pfeiffer (20th), Rob Ploeger (3rd), Hank Strickland (17th), Bob Titcomb (15th) and Charlie Votava (17th) mustered at Naval Station Norfolk, Vista Point for a van ride to USS GONZALEZ (DDG 66). Classmate VADM Al Konetzni, who would later be presenting the Leadership Awards, received Quarter Deck honors and we gathered in the wardroom for a meeting with the Commanding Officer, CDR Mike Schenk, USNA ’06 and Executive Officer, CDR Alex Smith, graduate of USMMA.

This was the largest gathering of Classmates at this ceremony than any previous year.

Opening the award ceremony on the fantail of USS GONZALEZ, Al recounted the heroism of Sgt Freddy Gonzalez at the Battle of Hue City and the history of the Class ’66 Leadership Awards. Al presented the awards to LCDR Allen and MA1 (WE/AW) John C. Queen for their outstanding  performance of duty and exemplary leadership throughout GONZALEZ training and operations certification cycle.

It is worth noting that the USS GONZALEZ Facebook page also reported on this important awards presentation: “It was emphasized that every Sailor is a link in the chain. We must continue the legacy and contributions set forth by the Class of 66 into the future.” #BeThePro#ddg66#Leadership#usna

Al Konetzni thanked CDR Schenk for the warm welcome GONZALEZ extends to Class ’66. He told the crew how very pleased he was that we were able to be associated with a crew of so highly skilled, dedicated professional sailors. To emphasize that they should be proud of their technical proficiency and the confidence our Navy has in them; Al then related a story of a Russian Admiral on a tour of one of our aircraft carriers. During the tour, the Russian Admiral commented that he was “impressed that enlisted sailors were operating combat direction and weapons employment equipment in the command center, because in the Russian Navy, these positions were held by warrant officers.” In closing, Al counselled the crew to not only take care of each other, but to be especially attentive to your family.

Following the ceremony, we had lunch in the Wardroom with CO, XO and LCDR Allen. During conversation it was noted that we had a connection with one of the crew, STG1 Alexander Decre. He is the great nephew of Richard Madaleno “66.

Upon departing the ship, we assembled at the bow with the CO, CDR Schenk and CMC, CMDCM Gregg with hull number 66 in the background.

For background information on the Class of 1966 Leadership Awards, USS HUÉ CITY (CG 66) and the USS GONZALEZ (DDG 66), including history and previous awardees, Click HERE.