At the presentation of the Department of the Navy 2007 Safety Excellence Awards on October 16th at the Naval Heritage Center, twenty-two commands and installations received awards for their safety programs. Among the recipients was a new player on the scene that may appear to be an “atypical” choice, the Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned (MCCLL). However, Marines and sailors who are regular recipients of the MCCLL Safety Corners will likely not be surprised at the choice. Unlike most of the other Marine Corps and Navy safety award winners, MCCLL was not recognized for implementing a new safety program within its organization or achieving an exemplary record of accident avoidance. Instead, MCCLL was awarded for its efforts to foster safety consciousness throughout the Marine Corps. At the awards ceremony, the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), the Honorable Donald C. Winter, noted that safety

“. . . is one of the highest priorities that I have within the [Department of the Navy]. . . A failure or two of observed safety could compromise people, could compromise equipment, could call to question our procedures. Any one of those will have —not could have — but will have a significant impact on our ability to conduct the mission.”

During the ceremony, MCCLL was cited for incorporating “safety and operational risk management as top priorities in planning and executing its mission, resulting in remarkable, highly successful and far-reaching achievements.” MCCLL along with the other recipients was awarded a citation, plaque and the SECNAV's safety flag, which they are entitled to fly for a year. The continuing importance of safety within the Department of the Navy has again been highlighted in the Department of the Navy Objectives for FY 2008 and Beyond , promulgated by the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Safety is identified as number 4 on the list of six key objectives for the fiscal year: Safeguard the People and Resources of the Navy - Marine Corps Team. Integrate Safety and Risk Management into all on and off-duty evolutions to maximize mission readiness and to establish DON as an organization with world class safety where no mishap is accepted as the cost of doing business.

MCCLL Newsletter November 20707