Awards
AWARDS
The Rylander and DeProspero award nominations are now open! The Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC) Division of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) is soliciting nominations for the R. Lynn Rylander Award and DeProspero Lifetime Achievement Award, both of which will be presented at the Awards Dinner held in conjunction with the 34th Annual SO/LIC Symposium in Washington, DC on October 30 - 31, 2023.
R. Lynn Rylander Award
The R. Lynn Rylander Award, our highest honor, is presented annually to an individual who has made distinctive contributions in the areas of Special Operations, Low Intensity Conflict, or Irregular Warfare. Achievements may be singular or cumulative, but in the spirit of R. Lynn Rylander’s service, the policy, guidance, leadership, or mission contributions must have been of the highest impact – highly significant and lasting – to the SO/LIC community. For the Rylander, the contributions should also show support of the goals and objectives of NDIA and the SO/LIC Division as a cooperative open forum between government and industry.
The Award is named for R. Lynn Rylander, a Department of Defense civilian who was a founding member of the organization which is now the SO/LIC Division of NDIA. He was an early advocate and activist on the revitalization of Special Operations Forces and the organizational and legislative changes required to sustain them.
Each year, the name of the R. Lynn Rylander Award recipient is added to the award trophy, which is in the form of a chess figure that advances, attacks, and defends indirectly, sharing the characteristics are critical to the men and women involved in the conduct of Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict.
DeProspero Lifetime Achievement Award
The DeProspero Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes sustained, distinguished service and is presented annually to an individual who has made distinctive lifetime contributions with significant impact in the areas of Special Operations, Low Intensity Conflict, or Irregular Warfare.
The award is named for Colonel Albert A. DeProspero, a retired Army Special Forces Colonel who was a founding member of the SO/LIC Division of NDIA, a former Chairman of the SO/LIC Executive Board, and a lifelong supporter of and advocate for the SO/LIC Community.
Submission
All nominations should be emailed to George Webster at gwebster@NDIA.org and the NDIA SO/LIC Awards Committee Chair, Patrick Powers, at patrick911.pvp@gmail.com.
Each nomination should be a separate MS Word or .pdf attachment.
Deadline
R. Lynn Rylander and DeProspero Award nominations are due Wednesday, June 28, 2023 so that that Division vote on the nominees during the July Board meeting.
Download the instructions