ALCOAST 212/17 - JUL 2017 2016 CAPTAIN QUENTIN R. WALSH EXCELLENCE IN LIVING MARINE RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT AWARD WINNER

R 120855 JUL 17
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-5R//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01650//
ALCOAST 212/17
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ:  2016 CAPTAIN QUENTIN R. WALSH EXCELLENCE IN LIVING MARINE RESOURCES
ENFORCEMENT AWARD WINNER
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 070955 FEB 17/ALCOAST 026/17
1. IAW REF (A), I am pleased to announce and congratulate MK3 Christopher Goonan
of Station Fort Pierce, FL as the inaugural recipient of the 2016 Captain Quentin R.
Walsh Excellence in Living Marine Resources Enforcement Award.
2. MK3 Goonan distinguished himself by fostering strong interagency partnerships,
a leadership role that far exceeds the expectations of a junior petty officer,
for the purpose of broadening mission focus to include marine protected species
enforcement and domestic fisheries enforcement. Specifically, the operation he
created with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Florida Wildlife Conservation
Commission, to protect the endangered Manatee, set his nomination apart.
3. The runner up for 2016 is LTJG James Bruce of Sector Columbia River, OR.
4. Honorable mention goes to the following nominees (in order of rank):
    a) ME3 George Earls, Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach
    b) BM2 William Lee, Station Fort Myers Beach, FL
    c) BM2 Derek Natividad, Station South Padre Island, TX
    d) ME1 Matthew Machock, Sector Honolulu
    e) BM1 Sean Cahill, Station Boston, MA
    f) LTJG Spencer Zwenger, USCGC MORGENTHAU
5. A total of 19 outstanding nominations were submitted, which made selection
difficult. All nominees may not be aware of their nomination and I strongly
encourage Commands to publicly recognize their accomplishments and leadership
examples and document them in their performance evaluations.
6. Bravo Zulu to all the nominees and the many BOs and BTMs who perform this
arduous mission day in and day out. The Coast Guard is increasingly reliant
on the stellar efforts of boarding officers in the face of growing mission
demands and limited resourcing. Your daily hard work and dedication level the
playing field in the $214 billion commercial and recreational fishing
industry which supports 1.83 million jobs across the nation. 
7. Additional information about the award, including the two finalist award
nominations, is available on the COMDT (CG-MLE-4) CGPortal page:
http://cglink.uscg.mil/14d8465f.
8. Direct any questions to COMDT (CG-MLE-4) POC, LCDR Eric Quigley at
(202) 372-2185 or e-mail: Eric.A.Quigley@uscg.mil.
9. RDML Anthony "Jack" Vogt, Assistant Commandant for Response Policy, sends.
10. Internet release authorized.