Sailor Of The Year - Fleet Forces Command

 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warfare Specialist/Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist)
Randy L. Leppell
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician First Class

Fleet Forces Command Sailor of the Year

Petty Officer Leppell was born March 7, 1972 in Fayetteville, North Carolina and joined the National Guard at age 17 while still in high school as an 11B infantryman. After graduating high school he remained in the National Guard until joining the Navy on April 17, 1991 where he graduated as Company “Recruit Chief Petty Officer” and class Honor Man. He transferred to Naval Air Station Millington, Tennessee and attended Aviation Electrician’s Mate ‘A’ school.  Subsequently, he chose orders to NAS Alameda, California where he was attached to the Naval Air Reserve Alameda where he served in AIMD.

In January 1994, he attended Naval Air Crew Candidate School, again graduating as class Honor Man, and continued on to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington at VR-61, where he was evaluated as the #1 E-5. During his tour, he was instrumental in the Command receiving “Best in the Wing” evaluations of their aircrew program and the Command's subsequent awarding of the Battle “E” for three consecutive years.

In September 2000, he began training to become an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, transferring to the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center where he was selected as the class leader. Successfully completing dive school, he transferred to Naval EOD School and was frocked to Petty Officer First Class.

Graduating from EOD School, he requested overseas orders to EOD Mobile Unit EIGHT, in Sigonella, Sicily. Within only six months on board EODMU EIGHT, his aggressive, "mission first" attitude was immediately recognized, accelerating him as LPO on the next deploying European Commander's In-Extremis Force in Stuttgart, Germany; an assignment normally reserved for more seasoned EOD Techs. His next assignment was LPO of a Mine Counter Measures detachment, further increasing his operational acumen. In April 2004, he was awarded Senior EOD Technician and in March of the following year he transferred to EODMU ELEVEN as LPO of Det ONE. Through his leadership, DET ONE successfully completed a comprehensive training cycle and deployed in January 2006 supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following DET ONE's safe return from combat operations in Iraq, he volunteered to return to Iraq in January 2007; six months after redeployment. He is currently conducting counter-IED operations in support of the 25th Infantry Division in MND-NORTH.

Despite an aggressive and operationally focused schedule, he managed time to enroll at American Military University and volunteered as assistant coach within the local youth soccer league.

EOD1(EOD/AW) Leppell's personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4 awards), the Army Achievement Medal, and the Navy Good Conduct Medal (4 awards) along with various service and campaign medals.