Randall A. Babin, an alumnus of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity at Northwestern State University, was recently named ‘Sailor of the Year’ at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard San Diego Detachment and another honor from the United States Navy.

Machinist’s Mate First Class (Surface Warfare) Babin, a 2005 initiate of the Beta Omicron Chapter, was also awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal by the Secretary of the U.S. Navy, receiving a gold star in lieu of the third award. He currently oversees nuclear maintenance performed on all fast attack nuclear powered submarines that come out of San Diego.

Babin received the award for “professional achievement in the superior performance of his duties while serving as Shop 105 Leading Petty Officer at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Detachment San Diego, California from October 2016 to September 2017. Leading his shop of ten sailors and eight civilians he ensured rigid standards of nuclear radiological repair were met during six arduous submarine availabilities including a drydocking and a media replacement event. He was responsible for scheduling over 180 man-days of technical schooling. His superior performance of duty has set the standard for his peers and resulted in his selection as Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Detachment San Diego’s Sailor of the Year, Fiscal Year 2017. By his outstanding performance and loyal devotion to duty, Petty Officer Babin reflected credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

Until his next assignment, Babin is assigned to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Detachment- San Diego. According to the Navy’s website, the detachment provides the Undersea Enterprise with a highly skilled and efficient workforce, dedicated to first-time quality in the planning and execution for all intermediate level maintenance on U.S. Navy submarines home ported in or visiting San Diego. In addition, it provides logistical support to shipyard personnel assigned to San Diego.

Though his career with the U.S. Navy has taken him around the country, he remains in contact with fraternity brothers through social media. “It’s a great feeling knowing I am a part of this brotherhood always.”

He previously served on board CVN 75 USS Harry S Truman supporting missions and deployments to the Persian Gulf as part of the War on Terror. Babin’s detachment placed war heads on foreheads for a total of 22 months.

“On the carrier I was responsible for the nuclear qualification and training programs of 162 sailors certifying and maintaining their proficiency to operate the nuclear power plants of the carrier at sea.”