Solomonides wins US Navy award for Cyprus evacuation of Americans

George Solomonides has won the Admiral Stanley R. Arthur Award for Logistics Excellence for his contribution to the successful evacuation of nearly 15,000 American citizens from Lebanon last summer.

This is the first time that the highly coveted award is given to a non-American citizen and the first who is not a member of the U.S. military or employee of the U.S. government.

George Solomonides, Managing Director of Solomonides Shipping Ltd. and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (FICS), together with a team of 12 US Navy officers shared the award presented during a special ceremony at the Pentagon on June 26. A second ceremony took place at the Four Seasons hotel in Limassol Tuesday.

The annual awards were established in 1997 to recognize military individuals and specially-formed logistics teams for their professionalism and excellence. A panel of flag officers and senior executive service representatives review candidates and select winners based on innovations that merit special recognition.

Shortly after the hostilities erupted in Lebanon on July 12 between Israel and Hezbollah, the American Ambassador to Lebanon requested U.S. military assistance to facilitate non-combatant evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon.

“Underpinning an unprecedented build-up of U.S. Power Projection, strategic lift and Humanitarian Assistance forces, Mr. Solomonides provided vital operational and tactical logistics support throughout the rapid build up and deployment of ships, aircraft and marines in the region,” said an announcement.

It added that “he also participated in the coordination of efforts to outfit and supply the Nicosia State Fair grounds in preparation for American citizens. His knowledge, experience and organizational skills contributed to the rapid and safe movement of nearly 15,000 evacuees and over 314,000 pounds of humanitarian support items.”

George Solomonides was also praised for his “exceptional service” from July to September 2006 and for his dynamic leadership, innovation and achievement in the advancement of Navy Logistics and Fleet Readiness.

In his speech during the award ceremony in Washington, D.C., Vice Admiral Michael Loose said, “all of us are here to pay tribute to you for your outstanding innovation, performance and outstanding contributions to our Navy. We applaud your exceptional leadership, hard work and extraordinary results. You epitomize the logistics profession and excellence… and you are truly the very best from a field of over 100,000 people who executive over 28 billion dollars annually.”

Also attending the award ceremony at the Pentagon was Cyprus Ambassador to Washington, Andreas Kakouris, Lieut. Col. Scott Miller from the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus, and Gene Rossides and Nick Larigakis of the American Hellenic Institute Foundation.

George Solomonides dedicated the award to his late father, Takis Solomonides, who dedicated his life to develop Cyprus shipping and tourism, and also the former U.S. Defence Attache in Nicosia, Lieut. Col. Thomas Mooney, a close friend who was also instrumental in the evacuation of the American citizens from Lebanon in July 2006.

George Solomonides holds a Masters degree in Shipping, Trade and Finance and has held managerial positions with shipowning and shipmanagement companies in Cyprus and abroad. Since 1990, Solomonides Shipping Ltd. has been the agent for the U.S. Navy in Cyprus, while two years ago, George was also appointed by the company representing the U.S. Navy and other NATO navies in the Mediterranean, as Area Manager for Greece.