Jewish Military Leadership Award to Be Presented at Biennial

Rear Admiral Shelanski began his Navy career when he was commissioned an ensign in July 1980 at Aviation Officer Candidate School and earned his Naval Flight Officer (NFO) Wings in the E2-C Hawkeye in 1982.

Shelanski holds a B.A. in molecular, cellular and developmental biology from the University of Colorado. He earned an M.S. in electrical engineering and space systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, the Navy Nuclear Power School and Prototype, the Naval Reactors Commanding Officer Nuclear Engineer course, and the Navy War College CD distance education course.

Shelanski commanded VAW-121, the Bluetails on the USS John C. Stennis’s maiden deployment around the world and was awarded the CNO Battle E Award, Safety Award and the AEW Excellence Award. He commanded and decommissioned the 6th Fleet’s fighting command ship, USS La Salle. He commanded USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) for a seven-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime security operations. The ship was awarded the 2008 CNO Safety Award, Battle E Award and the Secretary of Defense Large Category Maintenance Award. In June 2009, As commander of the Truman, Shelanski installed an ark and Torah on the ship, and he has led the effort to supply all aircraft carriers with Torah scrolls.

Shelanski reported to the OPNAV staff as director of the Navy’s Environmental Readiness division, N45. Shelanski was then selected to be the deputy, Survey and Engagement Team on the Comprehensive Review Working Group to study the effect on the military of the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.” He sensitively worked to transition the Navy through repeal of this policy and to a full acceptance of gay sailors.