CAPT Norm Ott Service/Leadership Award
Norm Ott served his country and community as a Navy SEAL with the Frogmen Underwater Demolition Teams and the CIA during Vietnam, the Cold War and later as the senior CIA Intelligence Advisor to CENTCOM during Operation Desert Storm. Norm was a loving husband & father, football, basketball, soccer coach, tennis league organizer and Boy Scout Master. Norm also served for many years as the President of the Tampa Bay UDT/SEAL Association Chapter president. He was known for his selfless volunteering, and by the mantra “if you ever need anybody to do anything, I will consider doing it.”
The CAPT Norm Ott Service/Leadership Award is awarded based on three pillars:
• Going above and beyond to support the Boston Frogman Swim and the Navy SEAL Foundation, whether that be swimming, volunteering, fundraising, supporting etc.
• Someone who we view as an Ambassador of the event.
• Exhibiting leadership not only in their service to the event and Foundation but also in the community and/or to country.
Dan Cnossen Above and Beyond Award
The Above and Beyond award is given to those who exemplify the spirit of the the awards namesake, Dan Cnossen, the beneficiary of the inaugural Tampa Bay Frogman Swim. The recipient will have show that spirit either physically, emotionally and/or mentally to go above and beyond while supporting the Boston Frogman Swim and the Naval Special Warfare community.
When Dan Cnossen, a Kansas native, arrived at the US Naval Academy, he had never seen an ocean and did not know how to swim. By the time he left in 2002 he was an accomplished triathlete. “Life is all about extremes” he always told his friends. On September 7, 2009, while leading his SEALs in combat in Afghanistan, LT Cnossen stepped on a land mine. Less than four months after losing both legs, he competed in his first half marathon, finishing fourth in the wheel chair division, in freezing rain and snow. Now a lieutenant commander, Cnossen has since gone on to become a successful Paralympic athlete competing in cross country skiing and biathlons.
The Swim Buddy Award
“In the Teams, you never do anything alone. No matter the task, you always have a swim buddy. But a swim buddy isn’t just a guy who swims, dives or works with you, you do everything together. You celebrate the wins together, you take the losses together. He willing takes your licks with you even though he didn’t earn them, because he knows you’d do it for him too. He believes in you even when you don’t, he’s there to pull your weight when you can’t, he’s your conscious when you need it. He’s a friend, a teammate, a brother and a reminder that you are never alone.” – Anonymous SEAL
The Boston Frogman Swim would like to recognize the individual who shows accountability and dedication to the event. You are someone who puts the swims mission, its reputation and others well-being before themselves. You are someone who goes above and beyond the standard and what’s expected of them, and at the end of the day understands the power of 1+1=3.
RECIPIENTS
2023 RECIPIENTS
Norm Ott: Ashley Gagnon
Dan Cnossen: Michael Burke
Swim Buddy: Rory O’Connor (SEAL, Ret.)
2022 RECIPIENTS
Norm Ott: Conor Murphy
Dan Cnossen: Margie Grube – Gold Star Spouse
Swim Buddy: PJ Ramsey – SEAL Ret.
2021 RECIPIENTS
Norm Ott Award – Sara Wilkinson & Sydney Mulder
Dan Cnossen Award – Tom Leard
2020 RECIPIENTS
Norm Ott Award – Joe Lyons & Charlie Orbell
Dan Cnossen Award – Jonathan Kelley
2019 RECIPIENTS
Norm Ott Award – Charlie Orbell
Dan Cnossen Award – Brandon Gatti