LEWISTON – Chief Warrant Officer III John L. Gilbert, a 1983 Lewiston High School graduate, has recently returned from a seven-month deployment onboard Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise in the Persian Gulf in support of operations in Iraq and Iran.

On Jan. 4 Gilbert was awarded the Stephen Decatur Leadership Award (a Stennis Center leadership award), which honors distinguished leaders on the Enterprise who demonstrate exceptional leadership. He was one of six to receive the award. Each recipient traveled to Washington, D.C., to visit the White House and the Capitol.

Gilbert addressed senators and congressmen at the Capitol lunchroom. He was selected to represent the Navy on Capitol Hill to speak on what sailors deal with day by day, and Congress wanted to show the attending Navy personnel the process they go through in Washington.

Gilbert signed up for Navy early enlistment in January 1983. He reported to boot camp at Orlando, Fla., in September that year. He first served on the USS Thomas C. Hart FF-1092 and was promoted to hull technician 2nd class petty officer. During that tour, he saved the life of a civilian shipyard worker trapped in a confined fuel tank.

After serving aboard the USS Yellowstone AD-41, he was assigned to the Naval Submarine Support Facility in Groton, Conn., in 1989 and was the leading petty officer for the shipfitters’ shop.

In 1992 he reported to the USS Yellowstone AD-41 once again, was recognized as the ship’s Sailor of the Year and was promoted to chief petty officer. Gilbert reported to the USS Portland LSD-37 in 1998.

In January 2000 Gilbert was commissioned to the rank of chief warrant officer two, stationed onboard the USS Fort McHenry LSD-43 IN Sasebo, Japan, and took part in numerous amphibious training exercises with other countries.

Gilbert reported to the Special Boat Team 20 “SPECWAR” in charge of two 82-foot crafts. In support of Iraqi Freedom, he was deployed to Bahrain for special warfare operations.

He was selected March 2005 to fill the six-year gapped billet onboard USS Enterprise CVN-65 as the ship’s repair officer. Gilbert was selected for the 2006 USS Enterprise Officer of the Year Leadership Award.

He has served more than 24 years of active duty and has been awarded Navy commendation medals with three gold stars and the Navy achievement medal with three gold stars.

Gilbert lives in Chesapeake, Va., with his wife, Barbara, and two sons, Justin and Bryan. He is the son of Beatrice Gilbert of Lewiston and the late Lucien “Lou” Gilbert. He is also the nephew and godson of Larry Gilbert Sr.