U.S. Navy photo by Doug Davant ABH1 Ahart is Sailor of Year for the whole of Naval District Washington.

And it was such action, plus other attributes that his commanding officer recently termed ‘‘superb,” which translated into Ahart’s nomination as NSASP’s Sailor of the Year candidate for the greater Naval District Washington. Last week, he was selected over five other nominees to represent NDW in the Commander Navy Installations Command Sailor of the Year competition (and if Ahart is selected as CNIC’s top Sailor, he will go on to compete against the entire Navy shore commands).

‘‘Petty Officer Ahart has earned the right to be my Sailor of the Year at NSASP, and he has my strongest recommendation to be selected as the 2009 VCNO (Vice Chief of Naval Operations) Naval Shore Activities Sailor of the Year!” said Ahart’s commanding officer, Capt. Catie Hanft.

Hanft noted in her recommendation letter that Ahart’s demanding duties, as sole manager of Naval Support Activity flight operations *at Naval Support Facilities Dahlgren, Indian Head and the Stump Neck Annex) meant that he is continually on the go to ensure the safe operations of all air traffic at the three separate sites.

Just at NSF Dahlgren alone, Ahart was personally responsible for the planning and safe execution of 54 flights over the base, as well as 31 ‘‘Open Sky Messages” in 2009. Additionally, he managed $25,000 in precious Operating Target funding, incurring zero discrepancies. He was also instrumental in directing three life-flights at NSF Dahlgren as well as the unscheduled forced landing and subsequent departure of one civilian bi-plane caught flying too close to the Washington metro area without proper radio clearance.

A dedicated ‘‘gym rat,” Ahart is an avid bodybuilder who works out with the free weights he termed his only hobby. His passion for fitness has naturally made him NSASP’s coordinator of command physical readiness program for not only his South Potomac host, but for four of the seven supported commands as well. Indeed, Ahart developed and implemented a Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) training program which resulted in an increase command PFA scores by 32 percent during two semiannual PRT cycles at NSASP. He also serves as the command’s funeral honors coordinator and has helped Dahlgren area funeral homes in conducting 25 funerals for former veterans while at NSASP.

Other activities that gained Ahart’s SOY selection were his participation in the command’s Adopt-a-School program where he donated more than 200 hours of leisure time to assist Dahlgren area elementary students with academic tutoring, mentoring and physical fitness training and weight management of school-age children, that has recently drawn the personal emphasis of First Lady Michelle Obama.

Asked about his reaction to winning NDW’s honor, Ahart maintains a certain reticence in giving credit to others.

‘‘I owe it to my mentors and my wife (Tracy) who constantly pushed me to be all that I can be,” he laconically said.

Ahart came to NSF Dahlgren from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-62) where he also was a top Sailor nominee. He has also served ABH duties at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN69) in his naval career.

A Californian, Ahart began his naval career 12 years ago after graduation from high school. Further continuing educational pursuits include self-study educational achievements attained to include United States Armed Forces Institute Courses, Defense Activity for Non Traditional Education Support (DANTES) courses, etc. As well, he recently earned his certificate in homeland security from Excelsior College.

A father of two sons (Cody, 3; Tristan, 2) ‘‘that keep me plenty busy,” Ahart and his wife reside at NSF Dahlgren.