R 121451Z MAR 26 MARADMIN 101/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC CD&I// SUBJ/SOLICITATION FOR THE 2026 COMBAT DEVELOPMENT AND INTEGRATION EXCELLENCE AWARDS// REF/A/MSGID: DOC/DECISION PAPER/YMD: 20200610//  AMPN/REF A IS THE DECISION PAPER FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EWEA// POC/E.B. CAYCHO/MSGT/CD&I, G-1/DSN 378-8030/ COM (703) 432-8030/[email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. In conjunction with the Expeditionary  Warfare Excellence Awards (EWEA), the Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration (DC, CD&I), is pleased to solicit  nominations for the annual Combat Development and Integration  Excellence Awards (CDIEA). The CDIEA ceremony will take place at the  2026 Marine Corps Association Combat Development Dinner on or around  20 August 2026.    1.a.  Inclusive dates for the awards are 1 January 2025 to 31  December 2025.  1.b.  The CDIEA features three awards:   Innovator of the Year (E1-E7, O1-O3): a Marine who possesses a mindset of continuous improvement, challenges the status quo to solve complex  problems, and rapidly implements new ideas, technologies, or tactics  to gain a competitive advantage on the battlefield.  Capability Developer of the Year (Marine or Civilian): a Marine or  Civilian that has exercised systematic, bottom-up process of  enhancing a unit's or individuals’ ability to perform the mission through training, experimentation, or new technology.   Superior Analyst of the Year (Marines/Sailors/Civilians): A Marine,  Sailor, or Civilian that used data-driven, and scientific methods  (operations research, wargaming, modeling) to provide a decisive  advantage in decision-making, force design, and warfighting  capabilities.  1.c. This awards program is applicable to the Active and Reserve components of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy. 1.d.  An awards board convened by CD&I will recommend eminently  qualified packages for DC, CD&I approval.  The award winners will be announced via MARADMIN.     2. Action  2.a.  Commands with personnel meeting the criteria are highly  encouraged to submit nominations via the first O-6 in the chain of command to the POC listed in this message.   2.b.  Nomination packages must be received no later than  15 May 2026.  Email nomination packages to CD&I G-1 personnel using the following email address: [email protected].    2.c.  Nomination packages shall be sent electronically via email and will include one file in Microsoft Word format and one file in  Portable Document Format (PDF) per nominee.  The subject line should read: “Calendar Year 2026 CDIEA ICO Rank/Name”, nomination packages  will include the following: 2.c.1.  A nomination letter from the first O-6, at a minimum, in the chain of command.  2.c.2.  Unit point of contact to include phone number and email  address.  2.c.3.  Phone number and email address for each nominee.    2.c.4.  A summary of performance that provides a concise resume of qualifications, including the billet description and significant  contributions, not to exceed two pages using 12-pitch courier new  font.    2.c.5.  A biography of the nominee.   2.c.6.  A proposed citation not to exceed 10 typewritten lines using 12-pitch courier new font.    3.  CD&I will fund travel for the individual awardee to attend the Combat Development Dinner for the presentation of the award. Every effort shall be made by local commanders to ensure the presence of the awardee at the ceremony.  Individuals other than the awardee who desire to attend must do so at their own expense.  4.  Ensure widest dissemination of the contents of this message.    5.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Eric E. Austin, Deputy Commandant for Combat Development & Integration.//