Military & Community
Pensacola Sailor Earns Top Military Volunteer Honor
Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Shakila Duff logged more than 150 volunteer hours serving Pensacola’s most vulnerable residents.
Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Shakila Duff, stationed at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, received the 2026 Margaret Flowers Outstanding Military Volunteer Award during the Pensacola Navy League‘s Military Recognition Day on June 12 at the Pensacola Yacht Club.
Rear Adm. (Ret.) Don Quinn, a member of the Navy League Board of Directors, presented the award to Duff before an audience of military personnel, local officials, and community leaders. Quinn also recognized nominees from other Pensacola-area commands.
150 Hours of Service
Duff’s selection recognized an extensive record of volunteerism across the Pensacola community. Her contributions included:
- Operations support for the Health and Hope Clinic
- Coordination of the Health and Hope Gala
- Assembly and distribution of assistance packages to homeless and elderly residents
- Key participation in the Egg Fest local charity event
Duff devoted more than 150 hours to volunteer initiatives across the Pensacola area, demonstrating the kind of leadership in community service the award was created to honor.
About the Award
The Margaret Flowers Outstanding Military Volunteer Award is named for a longtime Navy civil servant who embodied dedication to community service. The award recognizes active-duty service members who go beyond the uniform to strengthen the communities surrounding military installations.
The annual Military Recognition Day event brings together service members, elected officials, and civic leaders to honor those contributions. This year’s ceremony included speeches and proclamations from Escambia and Santa Rosa county representatives, who highlighted the importance of military volunteerism to the region.