DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20350-2000
OPNAVINST 5305.9C
N83
8 Sep 2022
OPNAV INSTRUCTION 5305.9C
From: Chief of Naval Operations
Subj: SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MAINTENANCE AWARDS PROGRAM
Ref: (a) DoDI 1348.30 of 8 April 2019
1. Purpose.
a. To implement reference (a) within the Navy, assign responsibilities and establish policy
for the implementation of the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) Maintenance Awards Program.
Reference (a) will default to most current Department of Defense (DoD) instruction.
b. The procedures, responsibilities and formats outlined in reference (a) and this instruction
apply to field-level and depot-level maintenance units within the Navy and Navy Reserve. This
reference can be found via the SECDEF Maintenance Awards website:
http://www.acq.osd.mil/log/MR/index.html.
2. Cancellation. OPNAVINST 5305.9B.
3. Discussion. Reference (a) updates the policy for the SECDEF Maintenance Awards
Program. This program enhances maintenance awareness and encourages maintenance
excellence by providing annual recognition for outstanding maintenance achievements for field-
level and depot-level maintenance.
4. Scope and Applicability. This instruction applies to all Active and Reserve Component, joint
maintenance activities and National Guard units that perform field-level maintenance of weapon
systems and equipment, as well as all major organic depot maintenance activities.
5. Responsibilities.
a. Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Integration of Capabilities and Resources (DCNO
N8) will:
(1) Approve Navy nominations for the DCNO.
(2) Submit up to two approved DoD maintenance award nominations per field-level
category and up to one nomination per major organic depot-level facility directly to Assistant
SECDEF for Acquisition and Sustainment by the prescribed date following the end of the
competitive period. To align with the maintenance awards programs of the military services, the
competitive period will be the 12-month period starting 1 October and ending 30 September each
year (i.e., 30 September of the year before nomination).
