COMSUBLANT Sailor Receives 2023 Copernicus Award

In room full of smiling faces with pride in their eyes, Senior Chief Information Systems Technician Submarine Brandon Bryant stands at attention as he is presented the 2023 Copernicus Award for his sustained superior performance of his duties at Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic (COMSUBLANT).
 
Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) International and the U.S. Naval Institute recognize U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard service members and civilians for their accomplishments in the 2022 fiscal year as Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) and information technology (IT) professionals.
 
“It is absolutely humbling to be recognized for something I saw as truly just doing what is right for the Submarine Force and the Navy as a whole,” said Bryant. “I am a firm believer that if you do what is right and do what is the best interests of your Shipmates; everything else will work itself out.”
 
As the Force IT, Bryant leads COMSUBLANT’s submariners for Cyber/Information Systems plans, policy, training, readiness, manning, maintenance and modernization.
 
“While this award is presented as an individual award,” said Bryant. “This award was the culmination of a lot of time, effort and passion for making Cyber/IT a priority for the Submarine Force. A lot of the effort is not just about knowing requirements but knowing the right people and asking the right questions. This is a large part of why I see being recognized for the Copernicus award as a team effort versus an individual effort.”
 
His specific contributions to the Submarine Force included the development and implementation of a Submarine Cyber Watchstander, an Information Systems Technician Submarines (ITS) rating wholeness review and improvement project, and substantial improvements in Submarine Force Cyber Readiness and Resiliency.
 
 “Our goal is to represent the best interests of our number one resource in the Submarine Force, our Sailors,” said Bryant. “But also ensure we are ready to do what the Submarine Force has always done, take the fight to the enemy.”
 
Due to operational commitments, Bryant was unable to attend the Copernicus Award ceremony in San Diego earlier this year but had the honor of receiving the 2023 Copernicus Award from Commander, Submarine Forces, Vice Adm. William Houston with family, friends and shipmates in attendance.
 
“Part of my inability to attend was my commitment to my responsibilities to support the Fleet but ultimately it gave me the opportunity to receive the award with those who were a large of part of what went into why I was recognized for this award,” said Bryant. “It was incredibly important to me for VADM Houston to present the COPERNICUS award because he was not only supportive but critical to empowering the efforts I was recognized for.  It was an added bonus to have my family present because so often it is hard for our families to feel connected to the important work we do.”
 
Copernicus Award is named for the Copernicus Architecture used as a basis for the Navy’s modern C4I/IT Systems. It was created in 1997 and is presented by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and the U.S. Naval Institute to those service members who have demonstrated sustained superior performance in C4I or IT related positions.