TAMPA, Fla. – Ricky Wade Jr., a native of Tampa, Florida, recently received the Civilian of the Year and NAVWARRIOR of the Quarter for the third quarter of Calendar Year 20, serving at Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic in Charleston, South Carolina.
Wade is a 1998 Brandon High School graduate and a soon to be University of South Florida graduate. Today, Wade serves as a supply chain logistician.
“My current position allows me to be creative and to create an environment worth serving,” said Wade.
Wade has been serving as a Department of Defense civilian for 12 years.
“I became a Navy civilian to help others who at times cannot help themselves–whether it’s lack of
knowledge or support, I am here,” said Wade.
As a part of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, NIWC Atlantic provides systems engineering and acquisition to deliver information warfare capabilities to the naval, joint and national warfighter through the acquisition, development, integration, production, test, deployment, and sustainment of interoperable command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, cyber and information technology capabilities.
According to Wade, the values required to succeed are similar to those found in Tampa.
“Tampa taught me to look forward to bigger and better things,” said Wade. “I continue to look up and forward.”
Though there are many opportunities to earn recognition in a command, community and careers, Wade is most proud of becoming Chairperson of the Non-Supervisor Employee Council (NSEC), as well as winning the Navy Civilian of the Quarter from NAVWAR and then Navy Civilian of the Year from NIWC Atlantic.
As a member of the U.S. Navy, Wade continues to develop essential traits needed for success.
“Being a DOD civilian means that we need each other more than we know and more than we can express on paper,” added Wade.
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