ALCOAST 199/18 - MAY 2018 2018 SOCIETY OF AMERICAN INDIAN GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE (SAIGE) MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD WINNER

united states coast guard

R 221610 MAY 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-00H//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01650//
ALCOAST 199/18
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ:  2018 SOCIETY OF AMERICAN INDIAN GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE (SAIGE) MERITORIOUS
SERVICE AWARD WINNER
1. I am honored to announce and congratulate Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Sheldon
Williams, Chief Electronics Technician at Surface Forces Logistics Center (SFLC),
Alameda, CA, as the Coast Guard's recipient of the 2018 Society of American Indian
Government Employee (SAIGE) Military Meritorious Service Award. This award honors
military members who have supported the Service's mission and significantly
demonstrated support for inclusion and promotion of government personnel to include
American Indians through government programs and/or community outreach.
2. CPO Williams is being recognized for exceptional service to Base Alameda, his
community, and Indigenous communities. CPO Williams effectively led the effort to
bring cultural awareness and diversity to the Coast Guard in the Bay Area by
coordinating multiple special ethnic observance programs. As a member of the
Hispanic Heritage Month committee, he served during a fiscally challenging time of
the year and orchestrated a successful event that was attended by over 100 people.
Additionally, CPO Williams chaired the Native American Heritage Celebration for
three years and coordinated events that were attended by over 200 people collectively.
Bringing together Tribal members from Onondaga, Seneca, Cherokee, and Ohlone,
encouraged cultural awareness and understanding between the Coast Guard and Native
American tribes. CPO Williams extended his outreach to the community as he operated
a non-profit organization that focused on indigenous women and children's health
issues and served as the SFLC Partnership in Education Coordinator. His dedication
to service was further illustrated as he volunteered to coach the Oakland Military
Institute (OMI) high school girls soccer team and middle school basketball and soccer
teams. Throughout his military career, CPO Williams has exemplified the Coast Guard's
core values of honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty.
3. I commend CPO Williams for his outstanding leadership, achievements, and
exemplary service. He will be officially recognized and honored at the SAIGE award
ceremony during the 15th Annual SAIGE National Training Program, on 14 June 2018 in
Green Bay, Wisconsin.
4. Civil Rights awards programs help maximize the Coast Guard's overall mission
effectiveness through recognition of members' accomplishments and contributions to
civil rights and equal opportunity in minority communities, and Partnership in
Education (PIE) programs. Learn more about the USCG civil rights vision, mission,
awards programs and CG PIE at: https://www.uscg.mil/Resources/Civil-Rights/.
5. Dr. Terri A. Dickerson, Director, Civil Rights Directorate, sends.
6. Internet release authorized.