BRUNSWICK, Maine — U.S. Navy Capt. James A. Kirk, commanding officer of the future USS Zumwalt, will receive the 43rd annual Joshua L. Chamberlain award from the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber at its annual meeting on Jan. 23.
Kirk will be the first Navy officer to captain a Zumwalt-class or “stealth” destroyer. Bath Iron Works is constructing the three “stealth” destroyers commissioned by the Navy. The line was discontinued because of cost overruns.
The award, named for the Civil War hero and Medal of Honor recipient Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, former Bowdoin College president and a four-term Maine governor, recognizes dedication and service toward the best possible military-community relationship in a region that includes Bath Iron Works and was — until 2011 — home of Brunswick Naval Air Station.
Previous winners of the award include Capt. William Fitzgerald, the final commanding officer of the former Brunswick Naval Air Station; Dan Nicholson, former command master chief of BNAS; Lt. Cmdr. Paul F. Loveless, U.S. Navy (Ret.), a Vietnam veteran and former director of the Retired Activities Office at BNAS; and former Brunswick Town Manager Donald Gerrish.
Also honored this year will be Carrie Coleman Strasburger of Brunswick as Citizen of the Year; JHR Development of Maine LLC as Earning Business of the Year; Simply Susie’s Catering as Small Business of the Year.
The award for New Business Venture of the Year will go to RollEase at Brunswick Landing, the former Navy base, and the Young Professional of the Year will be awarded to Michelle Curtis of Bar Harbor Bank and Trust.
Chamber Volunteer of the Year is James Nylund of Wells Fargo Advisors, and attorney Arthur J. Lamothe will receive the Chairman’s Award.
The chamber’s annual meeting and “Big Night Out” event will take place Jan. 23 at the former Borders Book Store at Merrymeeting Plaza in Brunswick.