ALCOAST 260/18 - JUL 2018 2018 CAPTAIN EDWARD R. WILLIAMS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY RECIPIENT

R 201053 JUL 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-12//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N01640//
ALCOAST 260/18
COMDTNOTE 1640
SUBJ: 2018 CAPTAIN EDWARD R. WILLIAMS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY RECIPIENT
1. The Captain Edward R. Williams Award for Excellence in Diversity was established
to recognize a Coast Guard Officer or Chief Warrant Officer (active or reserve) who
have been most supportive of initiatives to achieve, value and manage diversity in
the Coast Guard.
2. I am pleased to announce that Commander Byron Hayes, currently assigned to the
CG's Ninth District, has been selected as the recipient of the 2018
Captain Edward R. Williams Award for Excellence in Diversity. The award will be presented
on 9 August 2018 during the National Naval Officers Association's Annual Leadership,
Professional Development and Training Symposium in Portsmouth, VA.
3. CDR Hayes currently serves as the Deputy Contingency Planning Chief for the Coast Guard's
Ninth District. He is a sought-after mentor and leader who demonstrates a strong commitment
towards the Coast Guard's diversity initiatives, such as retention and recruitment of under
represented minorities, and women. As a participant and supporter of the Partnership in
Education (PIE) and Cleveland Area Federal Executive Board (FEB) Tutoring Program, he
contributed over 160 hours tutoring high-risk low-income minority elementary school children.
In addition to fostering diversity and inclusivity efforts in local youth programs, he has
repeatedly participated in a local "Adopt-A-Family" program that provides foster care and
family services to underprivileged minority families throughout the Northeast Ohio
communities. CDR Hayes' commitment to fostering diversity in the CG reached beyond
the active duty ranks, and he recognized the importance of promoting the tenants of equal
opportunity and civil rights in the CG's civilian federal employee workforce. In a
groundbreaking endeavor, while serving in the Cleveland Area (FEB) committee, CDR Hayes
was instrumental in launching the nation's first ever (FEB) Diversity Inclusion Committee.
This committee was chartered to promote a diverse and inclusive workplace environment
through collaboration, education, and sharing of best practices amongst all federal agencies
in the Cleveland-Akron, Ohio metropolitan area. With sparse diversity training available in
the Cleveland area, Commander Hayes brought together federal agency resources to plan,
prepare, and execute cost effective diversity speakers and inclusive leadership training to
local Coast Guard members. The Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
lauded this committee as a best practice for Federal Executive Boards throughout the U.S.
and a great mechanism to strengthen diversity and inclusivity within the federal workforce.
As a member of the Coast Guard Academy Minority Outreach Team (AMOT), and CGA
Admissions Team, CDR Hayes worked with two CG sponsored preparatory school programs, Georgia
Military College and Marian Military Institute, to encourage African Americans to serve in
the U.S. Coast Guard. Additionally, he led one-on-one mentoring with high school students
at a high school outreach event at Marine Safety Unit Cleveland with more than 50 local
students and parents in attendance. He mentored several minority students through the
application process, which resulted in three receiving appointments to the Academy. He also
coordinated a Students of All Races (SOAR) event on base, which provided prospective students
and parents his perspective on the Academy and Coast Guard career opportunities. He
represented the Coast Guard in several local college fairs, speaking to 300 students and
parents. As the Chair of the Ninth District LDAC and member of the LANT Theater LDAC,
Commander Hayes led widespread diversity training spanning five of the nine CG Districts.
He chaired a "Gender Issues" study tasked with providing useful data to key decision makers
regarding how to recruit, retain, and be more inclusive of female members throughout the
service.
4. I extend my hearty congratulations to all of the nominees for 2018 Captain Edward R.
Williams Award for Excellence in Diversity. Each nominee demonstrated leadership and
commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in building the 21st Century Coast Guard
workforce:
   A. CDR Eric Helgen
   B. CDR Michael Russell
   C. CDR Eva VanCamp
   D. LCDR Caitlin Mitchell Wurster
5. The POC from COMDT (CG-127) is CWO Cory Jones at Cory.A.Jones@uscg.mil, 202-475-5250.
6. Ms. Michelle R. Godfrey, Director of Civilian Human Resources, Diversity, and
Leadership, sends.
7. Internet release authorized.