A soldier who aided in restoration efforts after crew members went lacking underwater. An airman who saved greater than a dozen lives in a home hearth. An off-duty Coast Guardsman who saved the lifetime of a motorcyclist following a crash. These are among the navy service members highlighted for his or her actions in 2025 by the United Service Organizations (USO).
The USO on Wednesday unveiled its 2026 USO Service Members of the Yr, celebrating seven members “whose distinctive braveness and dedication went past the decision to obligation.”
The awardees can be honored in particular person at this yr’s annual USO Gala going down on April 16 at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.
“The USO Service Members of the Yr have proven outstanding dedication to defending and serving others, usually stepping in throughout essential moments for each fellow troops and civilians,” USO CEO Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Michael Linnington mentioned in a press release shared with Army.com.
“These awards spotlight the unbelievable individuals who serve in our nation’s navy.”
David Provider, a USO spokesperson, advised Army.com that the nonprofit and navy mainstay relationship again to 1941 created this award in 2003.
“The USO Service Members of the Yr are nominated by command management from every navy department and last choices are made by a USO committee,” Provider mentioned.
The USO served service members and their households by greater than 250 places worldwide, offering care packages, leisure, navy partner and youth programming and extra by efforts deemed doable by donors, company companions, volunteers and workers.
All of This Yr’s Honorees
This yr’s awardees run the gamut by way of giving again to people and communities, displaying that navy service doesn’t all of a sudden cease when off the bottom or battlefield.
They characterize all seven companies and individually had been praised for the next selfless acts:
USO Soldier of the Yr: Army Capt. Emily Malcom
U.S. Army Capt. Emily Malcom, regardless of being stationed at Fort Bliss with the fifth Armored Brigade, instantly stepped into motion when on July 4, 2025, her hometown of Kerrville, Texas, was devastated by catastrophic flash flooding. The state of affairs, which garnered nationwide consideration as a result of injury and concern inflicted on native communities and the greater than 100 fatalities.
Malcolm organized for emergency depart and drove in a single day to achieve her group. By July 7, she had reported for obligation and labored as a volunteer firefighter and collaborated with a search-and-rescue crew to steer restoration operations.
She additionally helped manage dive groups, managed personnel in high-impact areas, served as a significant liaison to the Emergency Operations Heart, and coordinated with native teams to distribute help and emotional assist to households who had misplaced every little thing.
Malcom is initially from Austin, Texas, and nonetheless at Fort Bliss.
What the USO mentioned: “As each an Army Reservist and regulation enforcement officer, Malcom personifies selfless service in a number of uniforms. The group of Kerrville benefited from her capacity to bridge her twin roles, leveraging navy self-discipline and civil familiarity with the area to foster environment friendly teamwork.”
USO Marine of the Yr: Lance Cpl. Matthew Garcia
Lance Cpl. Matthew Garcia’s recognition comes from saving a fellow Marine was all of a sudden overtaken by heavy surf and rip currents greater than 50 yards from shore. The state of affairs prompted Garcia to dive in and save his colleague with none life-saving gear.
Garcia stabilized the Marine, stored him above water regardless of repeated submersion, and maneuvered him safely to shore earlier than lifeguards arrived on scene.
He’s initially from Los Angeles and is at the moment stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
What the USO mentioned: “Lance Cpl. Garcia’s decisive motion, composure beneath excessive strain and selfless disregard for his personal security had been straight accountable for saving a fellow Marine’s life and replicate the best traditions of the Marine Corps’ enduring dedication to Semper Fidelis—at all times devoted.”
USO Sailor of the Yr: Navy Chief Petty Officer Joseph Hawthorne
U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Joseph Hawthorne led an underwater restoration mission in Lithuania when a submerged armored car resulted in 4 lacking crew members.
In April 2025, 4 troopers of the first Armored Brigade Fight Group, third Infantry Division, had been enterprise a coaching train in Lithuania when their armored car grew to become submerged in a swamp. All 4 service members died within the accident.
Hawthorne, the first diver trying to find the our bodies of the deceased, voluntarily and repeatedly entered a life-threatening surroundings with zero visibility that threatened to entrap him and others. He and his crew stored going for a number of days of 24-hour operations regardless of the dangers of environmental poisoning or different methods they too might have met peril.
Hawthorne is initially from New Boston, Texas, and is at the moment stationed at Naval Development Battalion Heart Gulfport, Miss.
What the USO mentioned: “Hawthorne and his crew’s selfless perseverance beneath excessive operational hazards was the driving pressure behind the profitable restoration of all 4 fallen troopers, epitomizing the best requirements of service, braveness and sacrifice inside the U.S. Navy.”
USO Airman of the Yr: Workers Sgt. Theodore Dudley
Air Pressure Workers Sgt. Theodore Dudley was at dwelling when hearth alarms went off inside his condominium constructing that quickly full of smoke. Whereas evacuating he heard neighbors’ requires assist and sprung into motion.
By smoke and an absence of imaginative and prescient, he guided not solely youngsters however a number of households and 5 elders outdoors to security. He additionally re-entered the constructing to make sure nobody remained inside. He saved 14 lives that day.
Dudley is initially from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and is at the moment stationed at Ramstein Airbase, Germany.
What the USO mentioned: “In the course of the evacuation, Dudley had additionally seen suspicious habits from a person close to the constructing who was not a resident. With the knowledge Dudley offered to police, together with proof discovered close to the crime scene, the suspected arsonist was apprehended.
USO Guardian of the Yr: Grasp Sergeant David Gudgeon
U.S. Area Pressure Grasp Sgt. David Gudgeon, a Area Pressure navy coaching teacher, was instrumental throughout two separate medical emergencies.
In the course of the first incident, he reacted instantly when a recruit started choking. And carried out the Heimlich Maneuver to efficiently dislodge the obstruction and allow the recruit to renew coaching.
In a separate emergency, Gudgeon triaged two unconscious trainees, offering fast and important emergency assist till medical professionals arrived. He additionally individually led a crew of 14 navy coaching instructors, and likewise oversaw the coaching and growth of 800 civilians who assist essential Area Pressure profession fields.
Gudgeon is initially from McHenry, Unwell., and is at the moment stationed at JBSA-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas.
What the USO mentioned: “His data of first help protocols and his capacity to stay composed beneath excessive strain had been essential in stabilizing the trainees and guaranteeing their survival.”
USO Coast Guardsman of the Yr: Yeoman Second Class Cody Dmochowski
U.S. Coast Guard Yeoman Second Class Cody Dmochowski saved the lifetime of a bike accident sufferer who had been thrown from their motorbike right into a closely wooded space.
Dmochowski witnessed the crash and rushed to the scene, discovering the sufferer with extreme accidents—together with a compound fracture with important blood loss—and he concurrently rendered help and relayed data to emergency dispatch.
He additionally instructed the sufferer to stay nonetheless to stop spinal accidents. He remained on scene for over an hour to help with the investigation and later traveled to the hospital to examine on the sufferer’s situation.
Dmochowski is initially from Brick, New Jersey, and is at the moment stationed at USCG Coaching Heart, Cape Could, New Jersey.
What the USO mentioned: “His dedication didn’t finish there; he has since offered unwavering assist to the sufferer and the sufferer’s household. With out Dmochowski’s fast, decisive and heroic intervention, it’s unlikely the sufferer would have survived.”
USO Nationwide Guardsman of the Yr: Grasp Sgt. Jon Osterhout, Colorado Nationwide Guard
In 2025, Grasp Sgt. Jon Osterhout voluntarily accepted a high-risk, short-notice deployment to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, throughout an escalating regional disaster.
When he arrived within the Center East, he instantly assumed management of a 585-member plane upkeep crew working beneath fixed menace of hostile missile hearth. His management drove 14,500 upkeep actions, enabling 2,500 fight sorties that resulted in 29 aerial victories and using 671 guided munitions—contributing to an 87% discount in regional missile assaults.
He additionally led the flight’s Emergency Administration Program, safeguarding greater than 600 personnel. He directed 27 essential repairs throughout 13 shelters, enhancing base survivability and readiness that proved pivotal throughout 5 separate missile alarms.
Osterhout is initially from Aurora, Colo., and is at the moment stationed at Buckley Area Pressure Base, Colo.
What the USO mentioned: “Past the battle, he devoted private time to strengthening the pressure, volunteering as an teacher for the Joint Prime Three Airpower Management Academy and mentoring 16 NCOs in management, counseling and requirements enforcement, straight shaping the subsequent era of Air Pressure leaders.”
