Jacob Boisvert is a resident of Nashua, NH, who serves as a materials program manager for Raytheon Missile Defense Agency, where he works on the Patriot Missile System. In this position, he continuously updates and streamlines long-term supplier agreements. He has also overseen multiple second source objectives related to strategic and technical materials that will have an estimated return on investment of $17 million over five years. Prior to his work with Raytheon Missile Defense Agency, Nashua, NH, resident Jacob Boisvert served as a program manager for the missile system program at CAES, as well as the electronic combat systems program manager at BAE Systems. His work in these and other positions has been informed not only by his educational background, including an MBA from Northeastern University, but also his time in the US military. A petty officer in the US Navy for six years, Mr. Boisvert received a letter of commendation for his service, personally delivered by the Honorable Donald C. Winter, who was Secretary of the Navy. He was also awarded the Naval Achievement Medal.
The Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal is awarded by the United States Department of the Navy to service members in the Navy or Marine Corps for meritorious service or achievement in either non-combat or combat situations, often based on sustained exemplary performance (although it may also be awarded for a “specific achievement of a superlative nature”). Specifically, the medal is awarded to junior service members of the rank of lieutenant commander (or major) or below, who are typically ineligible for the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation for Achievement Medal or the Meritorious Service Medal. The Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal may be awarded for both professional achievement or leadership achievement.
The award was established by Secretary of the Navy John B. Connally in May 1961, originally as the Secretary of the Navy Commendation for Achievement with Ribbon. It was changed to a medal in 1964, when the name was changed to Secretary of the Navy Commendation for Achievement Medal. The award’s name was then shortened to the Navy Achievement Medal in 1967. The Marine Corps designation was added to the medal in 1994. Despite the name changes, the award has been bestowed since May 1, 1961.
The Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal is worn before the Combat Action Ribbon but after the Joint Service Achievement Medal, with further awards signified by the addition of gold stars. The rectangular bronze medal features a fouled anchor on its obverse side, with a five-sided star in each clipped corner. The design was inspired by the flag of the Secretary of the Navy, who originally established the medal. The reverse side of the medallion is left blank in order to accommodate the engraving of the honored service member’s name. The medal’s ribbon is myrtle green (as suggested by the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal), with an orange stripe on either side (just inside the margins of the ribbon) differentiating the Achievement Medal from the Commendation Medal. The medal was designed by Arnold P. Simmons and sculpted by Lewis J. King, Jr., both of whom belonged to the Army’s Institute of Heraldry.