Groton — The winners of the coveted 2012 Submarine League Awards were announced in a naval message July 27.

Cmdr. J. Carl Hartsfield, commanding officer of USS Newport News (SSN 750), received the Rear Admiral Jack N. Darby Award for Inspirational Leadership and Excellence of Command. Master Chief Electronics Technician Eric J. Murphy, chief of the boat of USS New Mexico (SSN 779), received the Master Chief Frank A. Lister Award for Exceptional Leadership and Motivation. Both submarines are assigned to Submarine Group Two.

Lt. Cmdr. Angel Rodriguez, director of Naval Submarine School’s Submarine Officer Advanced Course, received the Rear Admiral Frederick B. Warder Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Hartsfield said he was honored to be selected, but that “all the credit rests with my talented and dedicated crew.” Murphy also credited the crew for winning this esteemed award.

“This award is a testament of the hard work, dedication and commitment of the New Mexico sea warriors,” said Murphy, who will be transferring soon to his next assignment at the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston, S.C. “I am honored to serve with a crew of this caliber.”

Rodriguez is responsible for the annual instruction of 150 officer students in diverse topics and disciplines to better prepare them for their next assignment as department heads.

“It was all unexpected,” he said. “I am humbled and honored that my command would nominate me and can’t really fully describe the feeling of being selected. In a way it hasn’t yet sunk in I guess.”

Additionally, Lt. Cmdr. William J. Hendershot, who was assigned to USS Frank Cable (AS 40) when he was nominated, won the Vice Admiral Levering Smith Award for Submarine Support while he served aboard the submarine tender. Hendershot reported to the Regional Support Group at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton in May.