Groton - The Navy League Eastern Connecticut Council honored the Sea and Shore Service Persons of the Year and the Officer of the Year during an awards dinner on March 17.The honorees were: Sea Service Person of the Year Chief Fire Control Technician Brian W. Paugh, assigned to USS Memphis (SSN 691); Shore Service Person of the Year Machinist's Mate 1st Class Carter C. Smith, assigned to Naval Submarine Support Facility New London; and Officer of the Year Cmdr. Dale Green, Naval Submarine Support Facility New London commanding officer.

The honorees were: Sea Service Person of the Year Chief Fire Control Technician Brian W. Paugh, assigned to USS Memphis (SSN 691); Shore Service Person of the Year Machinist's Mate 1st Class Carter C. Smith, assigned to Naval Submarine Support Facility New London; and Officer of the Year Cmdr. Dale Green, Naval Submarine Support Facility New London commanding officer.Smith volunteers in the area and talks to middle and high school students about the effects of alcohol and illegal drugs through the Groton Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. He said he owed his success to his wife, Joanne.

Smith volunteers in the area and talks to middle and high school students about the effects of alcohol and illegal drugs through the Groton Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. He said he owed his success to his wife, Joanne."My wife has made it possible for me to volunteer the hours that I did," Smith said. "She and my daughter have sacrificed so I can give back to the community."

"My wife has made it possible for me to volunteer the hours that I did," Smith said. "She and my daughter have sacrificed so I can give back to the community."Paugh's community service includes raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Association and the Cystic Fibrosis and Kidney Foundations. He could not attend the event because he was underway on the Memphis.

Paugh's community service includes raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Association and the Cystic Fibrosis and Kidney Foundations. He could not attend the event because he was underway on the Memphis. Command Master Chief Wesley Koshoffer, of Submarine Development Squadron Twelve, said Paugh is "an incredible sailor," whose "most powerful attribute is probably that he is extremely humble."

Command Master Chief Wesley Koshoffer, of Submarine Development Squadron Twelve, said Paugh is "an incredible sailor," whose "most powerful attribute is probably that he is extremely humble." Green, who is a deacon at his church, has led a team of about 300 volunteers for more than two and a half years in a community service project called Service on the Sound. The volunteers have improved the homes of 55 elderly and disadvantaged families.

Green, who is a deacon at his church, has led a team of about 300 volunteers for more than two and a half years in a community service project called Service on the Sound. The volunteers have improved the homes of 55 elderly and disadvantaged families."We will always have the poor and people who are less fortunate than me," Green said. "I think it is important to give as much time as possible to people who really need it."

"We will always have the poor and people who are less fortunate than me," Green said. "I think it is important to give as much time as possible to people who really need it."The Sea and Shore Service Persons of the Year were selected from the 12 winners of the Service Person of the Month Program, which is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut in cooperation with the active-duty units in the area.

The Sea and Shore Service Persons of the Year were selected from the 12 winners of the Service Person of the Month Program, which is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut in cooperation with the active-duty units in the area.The Officer of the Year program recognizes the contributions that local officers make to the communities where they are stationed.

The Officer of the Year program recognizes the contributions that local officers make to the communities where they are stationed.