East Amherst man named top New York Naval Militia member for 2026

Chief Electricians Mate John Gerard, is the winner of the annual Josephthal Award for outstanding Naval Militia member

LATHAM, New York (08/13/2026) — An East Amherst resident has been named the top performer in the 2,700-member New York Naval Militia.

Chief Electrician's Mate John Gerard, who has served in the state's naval force since 2018, has been awarded the Josephthal Award for 2026.

Established in 1929 by Naval Militia Rear Admiral Louis Josephthal, who was then the commander, the annual award recognizes an outstanding individual Naval Militia member and an outstanding unit.

Winners receive a state military award and a $500 cash payment.

The New York Naval Militia is a state force made up of members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard reserves--who volunteer to do state duty when called-as well as a small number of retired military personnel.

Gerard falls into this category.

Gerard, a retired mechanic, joined the Navy in 1980. He served on active duty until 1984, serving on board the U.S.S. Fulton, a submarine tender, and then a minesweeper, the U.S.S. Illusive. Minesweepers are small ships made of wood-to avoid setting off mines sensitive to metal-which remove enemy mines.

In 1986, Gerard joined the Navy Reserve and was assigned to the Assault Craft Unit in Buffalo. He served as a training officer, operations officer, shipyard coordinator, and liaison officer while serving in the Navy Reserve.

In 2018 he deployed to Indonesia as "craftmaster" aboard Landing Craft, Utility 1651. The landing craft can carry three tanks or up to 400 troops between ships and a beach.

Gerard joined the New York Naval Militia's Military Emergency Board Service in 2018 after retiring from the Navy Reserve. The Military Emergency Boat Service, or MEBS, operates a fleet of 11 watercraft, 9 patrol boats and two landing craft.

These boats work in conjunction with the Coast Guard and other federal, state and local agencies as required.

Gerard is responsible for boat operations on western Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.

As a member of the New York Naval Militia, he has been involved in responding to flooding in Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario and patrolled the U.S./Canada border to support drug interdiction efforts.

The New York Naval Militia is the oldest and largest Naval Militia organization in the United States.

The Naval Militia was first organized in 1889 before there was a Navy Reserve and was envisioned as a sea-going National Guard. During the Spanish-American War, the New York Naval Militia crewed two auxiliary cruisers in support of the Navy.

Following the creation of the Navy Reserve, the Naval Militia became a state force. Most Naval Militia members serve in the federal reserve forces and put their federal training to work for the state of New York.

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