Brashear Foundation Presents First Ever ‘Military Diver of the Year Award’

By Tony Palm – Public Relations/Development Officer for the Carl Brashear Foundation

At the annual Military Divers Training Continuum in Panama City, FL, with over 200 active-duty Navy Divers in attendance, Phillip Brashear, President of the Carl Brashear Foundation, presented the first annual Military Diver of the Year Award to Navy Diver First Class (DSW/EXW) Spencer Puett.

Brashear, son of legendary Master Diver (MDV) Carl Brashear, the Navy Diver whose life was immortalized in the movie, Men of Honor, is an Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer and a Weapons Program Manager at the Defense Logistics Agency in Richmond, VA.

Puett, a 2003 graduate of Central High School, Saint Joseph, MO is the son of Alice and Ron Puett, also of Saint Joseph, and grandson of Harold and Dorothy Dughes, of Dawn, MO. He enlisted in the US Navy 2005 as a Construction Mechanic (Seabee) and completed his initial diver training at the Navy Dive and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC), Panama City, FL in 2007.

Upon graduation, he reported to Explosive Ordinance Demolition (EOD) Mobile Unit Three, San Diego, where he supported Navy EOD operations while deployed to the Western Pacific on board the USS Ronald Reagan, CV-76.

In 2012 he reported back to NDSTC for advanced diver training, graduating as a 1/C Diver, and immediately afterward reported to Mobile Dive and Salvage Unit Two (MDSU 2), Little Creek, VA. While assigned to MDSU 2, Puett deployed to the FIFTH and SIXTH Fleet Areas of responsibility (Middle East & Africa) as part of Task Group, FIVE SIX Point ONE.

In the award citation, Brashear quoted Puett’s nomination which was written by the MDSU 2 Executive Officer, LCDR Daniel Bailey, “ND1 Puett’s contributions rivaled, and often surpassed those typical of far senior enlisted and commissioned leaders. His superb leadership of subordinate sailors during 14 highly successful diving, ships husbandry, and force protection operations was surpassed only by the team’s impeccable safety record.”

Brashear went on to say, “Petty Officer Puett, I am confident in stating that were my father still alive, he would be extremely proud to have chosen you for this award. Your exemplary behavior is in keeping with the highest ideals of Courage and Determination set by Master Chief/Master Diver Carl Brashear and are in keeping with the greatest traditions of the United States Military Diving Community and the United States Navy.”

Brashear concluded the citation by presenting Puett with a custom-made paddle. “I’m blown away by this award, and believe it will help me to make Chief Petty Officer”, Puett said. “The Brashear award is a big deal to the Diving Community and gives junior personal something to shoot for”.

Puett’s wife, Stephanie, also of Saint Joseph, along with his parents and stepmother Sharon Samuelson all traveled to Panama City to attend the ceremony.