2026 Combat Development and Integration Excellence Award Winners
Announcement of the three winners of the 2026 CDIEA — Innovator, Capability Developer, and Superior Analyst of the Year — recognizing calendar year 2025 performance. The award ceremony is scheduled for 20 August 2026 at The Clubs at Quantico.
This is a routine update — a name list, a set of results, or a recurring notice. There is nothing here to translate into plain English, so the official text is reproduced in full below. Read it on marines.mil
Official text
R 161232Z JUL 26 MARADMIN 318/26 MSGID/CMC CDI WASHINGTON DC// SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2026 COMBAT DEVELOPMENT AND INTEGRATION EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS// REF/A/MSGID/MARADMIN 101/26// AMPN/REF A IS THE SOLICITATION FOR THE 2026 COMBAT DEVELOPMENT AND INTEGRATION EXCELLENCE AWARDS// POC/E. B. CAYCHO/MSGT/DC CD&I/DSN: 378-8030/TEL: 703-432-8030/ EDUARDO.CAYCHO@USMC.MIL// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. The Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration (DC, CD&I) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 Combat Development and Integration Excellence Awards (CDIEA). 2. Background. The CDIEA recognizes the outstanding achievement of Marines, Sailors, and Civilians who have demonstrated exceptional innovation, capability development, and analytical superiority in support of the warfighter. An awards board convened by DC, CD&I reviewed highly competitive nomination packages from across the force. Each category featured highly competitive nominations and are symbolic of the exceptional leadership, performance, and selfless dedication to mission accomplishment put forth during calendar year 2025. 3. 2026 CDIEA Winners: 3.a. The Innovator of the Year is Sergeant Henry Volpe, 2d Maintenance Battalion, 2d Combat Readiness Regiment, 2d Marine Logistics Group. 3.b. The Capability Developer of the Year is Mr. Matthew E. Koch, Portfolio Acquisition Executive Marine Corps. 3.c. The Superior Analyst of the Year is Major Colton L. Byers, Operations Analysis Directorate, Combat Development and Integration. 4. Action. The award winners will be recognized at the Marine Corps Combat Development Dinner, hosted by the Marine Corps Association, on 20 August 2026 at The Clubs at Quantico, 3017 Russell Road, Quantico, Virginia 22134. A no-host reception will begin at 1800, with dinner and the ceremony beginning at 1900. 4.a. The prescribed uniform for Marine Corps awardees is Service Alphas. 4.b. The prescribed uniform for Navy Awardees is Service Dress Blues. 4.c. Civilian Awardees and guests are encouraged to wear Business professional attire. 5. Details regarding travel and the schedule of events for award winners will be issued via separate correspondence. 6. Congratulations to those selected and all who were nominated. Your performance in this vital area is noteworthy and has directly influenced the Marine Corps. 7. Release authorized by Lieutenant General Eric E. Austin, Deputy Commandant for Combat Development & Integration.//
Resources & references
The documents this bulletin points to, with a plain-English note on why each matters. Links marked CAC required need a government login.
This is the original call for nominations for the 2026 Combat Development and Integration Excellence Awards. Reservists involved in innovation or capability development work can reference it to understand the award criteria and nomination process.