Navy
Defense Media Activity names Stars and Stripes journalist its NCO of 2022
Stars and Stripes
August 17, 2023
Stars and Stripes reporter Kelly Agee, shown here over the Coral Sea on July 31, 2023. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)
The Defense Media Activity recently named reporter Kelly Agee of Stars and Stripes Pacific its 2022 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
Agee, a petty officer 1st class and news reporter and photographer in Tokyo, was selected for the award from among seven nominees from the Air Force and Navy.
The award recognizes the service member’s performance in their primary duties, their leadership and community involvement.
In 2022, Agee produced numerous news articles and photographs, including the most viewed news article in Stars and Stripes that year, the removal of Little Debbie snacks from military commissaries.
Agee also reported on the deaths of family pets while in custody of Air Mobility Command and the loss of access by Defense Department civilians to health care on overseas military bases.
While assigned to Stars and Stripes, she organized a stand-up comedy event aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, raised more than $1,000 for a local orphanage and oversaw a local homeless outreach program that fed about 100 Japanese citizens.
Agee, of Longview, Texas, joined the Navy in 2012.