United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps
Band of the West Division
The BOTW is an active unit and recognized for its excellence
BOTW AWARDS & HONORS:
2024. Nat'l Youth Cyber Defense Competition/Cyber Patriot XI 2024-25
All Service Division, National Finalist
2023. Nat'l Youth Cyber Defense Competition/Cyber Patriot XI 2022-23
All Service Division, National Finalist
2022. Nat'l Youth Cyber Defense Competition/Cyber Patriot XI 2021-22
All Service Division, National Finalist
2020 Nat'l Youth Cyber Defense Competition/Cyber Patriot XI 2020-21
All Service Division, National Finalist
2019 Nat'l Youth Cyber Defense Competition/Cyber Patriot XI 2019-20
All Service Division, First Place Tier Award
NSCC ANNUAL INSPECTION AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Nat'l Youth Cyber Defense Competition/Cyber Patriot XI 2018-19
National Finals qualifiers in the All Service Division, First Place Award
NSCC Pacific Central Region 12 Seamanship Challenge— 2rd Place Overall
2018 NSCC CERTIFICATE OF MERIT. Commendation for the management and execution of its training program for year 2017
NSCC CHAIRMAN'S AWARD 2nd place for Recruiting and retention
NSCC Pacific Central Region 12 Seamanship Challenge— 3rd Place Overall
Nat'l Youth Cyber Defense Competition/Cyber Patriot X 2017-18; Third Place Award in the All Service Division Platinum Tier State Round
2017 NSCC CERTIFICATE OF HONOR. Commendation for the management and execution of its training program for year 2016
Nat'l Youth Cyber Defense Competition/Cyber Patriot IX 2016-17; National Finals qualifiers in the All Service Division, First Place Award in the All Service Division
2016 NSCC CERTIFICATE OF HONOR. Commendation for the management and execution of its training program for year 2015
Youth Cyber Defense Competition/ Cyber Patriot VII 2015-16; First Place Award in the All Service Division Gold Tier State Round
2015 Nicholas Brango Award For Inspirational Leadership, NSCC OFFICER OF THE YEAR awarded to LTJG Jo-Anne Dao, NSCC BOTW
NSCC CERTIFICATE OF HONOR Highest honor achieved based upon annual inspection
NSCC CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR MOST IMPROVED UNIT
2014 USNSCC CHAIRMAN’S AWARD FOR RECRUITING AND RETENTION: 1st place
Youth Band in Redwood City's 4th of July parade—1st place
USNSCC Certificate of Merit, Training Program
2013 USNSCC Certificate of Merit, Training Program
BOTW CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS
Chief Petty Officer is the highest rank a sea cadet may earn and requires years of coursework, exams, trainings (including Petty Officer Leadership Academy) and a proven record of successful leadership.
Only 4% of sea cadets reach this rank.
Bravo Zulu, chiefs!
trumpet 2015
tenor saxophone 2015
percussion 2015
bass clarinet 2018
tenor saxophone 2018
Bari-Saxophone 2019
piccolo/flute 2020
alto saxophone 2020
clarinet 2020
Flute, 2020
Euphonium, 2020
Tenor Saxophone, 2021
tenor saxophone, 2021
trumpet, 2021
flute, 2021
trumpet, 2021
Trumpet, 2022
alto sax, 2023
trombone, 2024
baritone, 2025
alto saxophone, 2025
In 2025, LCDR Jeffrey Dao was selected
among candidates nationwide and awarded the
Fred D. Carl Award For NSCC Regional Director of the Year.
I grew up in Alameda, CA when the naval air station was still active. Back then, the Navy was a visible partof daily life. But after post-Cold War base closures, military presence in the San Francisco Bay Area faded,making it easy for communities to forget the sacrifices of those who serve. The Sea Cadets helped to changethat. Cadets engage with veterans and active-duty personnel, gaining firsthand insight into commitment,leadership, and sacrifice. Even if cadets don’t pursue military service, they develop a deeper appreciation forthose who do—an important perspective for future voters and leaders.The Sea Cadets provides young people with meaningful opportunities: learning to be present, building trustin others, and—if they’re inclined—leading. Not everyone is destined to be a leader, but everyone can learnto be a team player and take pride in a job well done. The Sea Cadet program instills discipline, cooperation,and a sense of responsibility—qualities that shape strong individuals and helps them overcome adversity.I never knew about the Sea Cadets growing up and only discovered the program when my son was in middleschool. Today, he serves as an ICU nurse and officer in the Navy, leading a platoon of medical personnelsupporting Marines at Camp Pendleton—the same base where he trained as a cadet. I’ve seen how theprogram benefited many other fine young people over the past 14 years.Being selected as the Sea Cadets National Regional Director of the Year was an incredible honor. So manyvolunteers give their time and energy to make this program possible, and their dedication embodies the spiritof community service that makes our country special.
LCDR Dao is concurrently serving as Commanding Officer of the BOTW since 2023
In 2015, LTJG Jo-Anne Dao was selected among
800+ candidates nationwide and awarded the
Nicholas Brango Award For Inspirational Leadership, NSCC Officer of the Year.
After stepping up to serve as Acting CO she implemented a long term strategic action plan for cadet musician recruitment to grow the newly commissioned unit. Unit was awarded ‘1st place , USNSCC CHAIRMAN’S AWARD FOR RECRUITING AND RETENTION’ (2014) as well as ‘NSCC CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR MOST IMPROVED UNIT’(2015)and ‘USNSCC Certificate of Merit, Training Program’ (2015)
In July 2015 she served as COTC for Advanced Music Training in Was D.C., the first to include selected musicians from other units nationwide. The cadets trained with both the US Navy Band and the US Naval Academy Band. The training included high profile performances at the U.S. Navy Memorial and Nat’l WWII Memorial and an audience with the CNO, Admiral Greenert who awarded the cadets his personal challenge coin. Her action plan also included public relation opportunities benefitting not only the BOTW but the entire NSCC program.
LCDR Dao proudly served as Commanding Officer of the BOTW 2013- 2023
