The Deputy Commandant for Information has put out a call for USMC nominations for the 2027 DON Information Superiority (IS) and Spectrum Excellence Awards. These awards cover the performance period 1 October 2025 through 30 September 2026 and recognize individuals and teams who produced measurable results in information management (IM) and information technology (IT). If you or someone in your unit did notable work in cybersecurity, IT modernization, electromagnetic spectrum, or digital workforce development over the past year, this is the program for it.
Heads up: USMC nominations are due online by COB 13 November 2026. No extensions, no fax, no hard copy.
Who it affects
All active and reserve Marines O-6 and below, plus DoD civilians GS-15 and below. Contractors can be recognized as part of a team if the team is led by a military member or DoD civilian. This is Total Force, so SMCR and IMA Marines are eligible if their work during the performance period qualifies.
What you need to do
If you want to nominate someone (or yourself):
- Review the nomination categories below and confirm your nominee's work fits one.
- Pull the nomination template and guidance from the DC I Awards SharePoint site.
- Coordinate through your chain of command for quality review and eligibility sign-off.
- Submit the completed nomination package through the first O-6 in the chain of command for routing to DC I.
- Ensure the package is uploaded to the SharePoint site by COB 13 November 2026. No other submission method is accepted.
The nomination site and template are at: https://usmc.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/DCI/Awards/SitePages/DON_IT_Awards.aspx
Award categories:
- Optimize: Measurable improvements in IT user experience, performance, or affordability
- Secure: Adaptive and resilient cybersecurity enabling mission success
- Decide: Decision advantage for warfighting or business operations
- Innovate: Scouting or applying game-changing technologies or processes
- Workforce: Empowering the digital workforce
- DON IS Person of the Year: Sustained leadership with enterprise-wide impact
- Electromagnetic Spectrum "John J. Lussier" Award: Strategic spectrum leadership at enterprise level
- Electromagnetic Spectrum Individual and Team Awards: Technical, operational, or policy achievement with spectrum-dependent capabilities
- Electromagnetic Spectrum "Catalyst" Award: Rising star in the spectrum workforce
Key dates
- 1 October 2026: Nomination window opens (DON CIO accepts nominations through 1 December 2026)
- 13 November 2026: USMC internal deadline. All USMC packages must be uploaded to the SharePoint site by COB this date. No extensions will be approved.
- Awards ceremony: Date TBD. Details to follow via separate correspondence.
The official version
This is MARADMIN 542/26. Nomination criteria and requirements are in the DON CIO memorandum dated 8 October 2026 (referenced as Ref A in the MARADMIN). The nomination template is on the DC I SharePoint site linked above.
POCs: MGySgt E. W. Dowdell III at eddie.dowdell@usmc.mil / 571-256-8893, or MSgt M. Chhour at michael.chhour@usmc.mil / 703-693-3464.
This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.