ALCOAST 020/19 - JAN 2019 WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT - 2018 HOPLEY YEATON CUTTER EXCELLENCE AND SUPERIOR CUTTERMAN AWARDS

R 301515 JAN 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-7//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01650//
ALCOAST 020/19
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ:  WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT - 2018 HOPLEY YEATON CUTTER EXCELLENCE AND SUPERIOR CUTTERMAN AWARDS
1. The Douglas Munro Chapter of the Surface Navy Association is honored to announce and
congratulate the recipients of the 2018 Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence and Superior
Cutterman Awards. Each of the winners were selected from amongst a highly competitive pool
of nominees. This year’s winners are:
   A. Cutter Excellence Award (Large Cutter): CGC HAMILTON (WMSL 753)
   B. Cutter Excellence Award (Small Cutter): CGC BRISTOL BAY (WTGB 102)
   C. Superior Cutterman Award (Officer): CWO Jared Crotwell - CGC BRISTOL BAY (WTGB 102)
   D. Superior Cutterman Award (Enlisted): SK2 Mathew Wilson - CGC JAMES (WMSL 754)
2. Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award (Large):
   A. Masterfully balancing law enforcement operations in the Caribbean Sea, Eastern Pacific,
and natural disaster response, the crew of CGC HAMILTON seized 4,983 kilograms of cocaine,
detained 19-suspected narco-traffickers, and directed post-hurricane response operations in
2018. The crew conducted two separate and simultaneous multi-vessel (go-fast) interdictions
employing airborne use of force and multiple synchronized long-range cutter boat intercepts.
In the middle of a major dockside availability, CGC HAMILTON executed a storm-evasion sortie
ahead of Hurricane FLORENCE after restoring severely degraded systems and equipment. The
cutter went on to lead a Surface Action Group of seven cutters, executing vital command
control on behalf of Sector North Carolina, conducting damage assessments of Wilmington and
the Cape Fear River, and assisting Stations Oak Island, Wrightsville Beach, and Ft. Macon
by removing debris and repairing station response infrastructure.
   B. Honorable Mentions for the Large Cutter Award are:
      CGC HARRIET LANE (WMEC 903)
      CGC SPENCER (WMEC 905)
      CGC MACKINAW (WLBB 30)
3. Hopley Yeaton Cutter Excellence Award (Small):
   A. The crew of CGC BRISTOL BAY capably balanced critical maintenance periods and operational
commitments, and sailed 143 days away from homeport, amassing 2,010 underway hours, 112% of their
programmed employment standard, with less than 24 hours of unscheduled maintenance on a 39 year
old cutter. CGC BRISTOL BAY performed 80 direct assists of commercial vessels during 1,174 hours
of icebreaking, which facilitated domestic and international trade on the Great Lakes. The crew
played a pivotal role in completing 2018 OPERATION SPRING RESTORE, servicing 129 floating aids
in 12 days following a casualty to another buoy tender and providing a reliable aids to
navigation constellation to mariners. Servicing 207 floating aids in total, CGC BRISTOL BAY
achieved an annual Aid Availability Rating of 99.7%, exceeding targeted standards.
   B. Honorable Mentions for the Small Cutter Award are:
      CGC DONALD HORSLEY (WPC 1117)
      CGC BAILEY BARCO (WPC 1122)
      CGC BONITO (WPB 87341)
4. Hopley Yeaton Superior Cutterman Award (Officer):
   A. CWO2 Crotwell, a 13 year cutterman assigned as Engineer Officer aboard CGC BRISTOL BAY,
compressed maintenance efforts into port calls achieving a maintenance currency rating of
89.1%. As a result, CGC BRISTOL BAY did not log a single day of unscheduled Charlie amidst
1,174 operational hours of icebreaking. CWO2 Crotwell also led CGC BRISTOL BAY through a 60 day,
$512,000 dockside availability. While many of the crew experienced some measure of rest and
recuperation after a grueling year of 2,010 underway hours and 143 days away from homeport,
CWO2 Crotwell carefully managed completion of 19 contracted work items while leading preparations
for Tailored Ship’s Training Availability. Routinely arriving to the cutter before dawn and
departing with merely enough time to say goodnight to his family, he worked an exhaustive pace
to repair the unit’s weight handling gear. Displaying innovation and skill, he designed a
trouble-shooting process to isolate the source of hydraulic power loss on the buoy handling crane.
   B. Honorable Mentions for the Superior Cutterman Award (Officer) are:
      CWO2 Justin Young-CGC HEALY (WAGB 20)
      CWO2 James Cullers-CGC WAESCHE (WMSL 751)
      CWO2 Adam Barton-CGC WALNUT (WLB 205)
5. Hopley Yeaton Superior Cutterman Award (Enlisted):
   A. SK2 Wilson, a six year cutterman, serves as a Pursuit Crewman and Gunner on CGC JAMES’ law
enforcement team. In 2018, SK2 Wilson participated in 3 interdictions resulting in the seizure
of 1,957 kilograms and detention of 11 suspected narco-traffickers. Additionally, he served as
a boat crewman during Airborne Use of Force recertification and coordinated internal
“Boat Colleges” to train and qualify aspiring coxswains and crewmen. Tirelessly working 12 hour
shifts, SK2 Wilson supported Hurricane MARIA response operations for nearly two weeks to
reconstitute Sector San Juan and assist with transporting parts, critical food supplies, and
passengers critical to relief efforts. When not directly involved in reconstitution efforts,
SK2 Wilson led and participated in work parties to clear storm debris at Sector San Juan and
Coast Guard housing in Puerto Rico. SK2 Wilson leaps at every challenge and opportunity
presented to him. SK2 Wilson stands qualified engineering machinery watches, serves as a
small boat engineer and crewman, chairs the LDAC, serves on the unit’s boarding and pursuit
teams, and fills flight quarters billets, all while delivering exceptional performance in his
role as an SK2 and pursuing a college degree. SK2 Wilson processed $126K in backlog funding
in less than three days overcoming latent underway internet connectivity and a hectic pace
of operations to ensure all funds were properly obligated.
   B. Honorable Mentions for the Superior Cutterman Award (Enlisted) are:
      ME1 Kelly Brockett-CGC MUNRO (WMSL 755)
      BMC Christopher Hopton-CGC DILIGENCE (WMEC 616)
      BMCS Matthew Jordan-CGC BLACKTIP (WPB 87326)
6. The SNA will coordinate with OPCONs to recognize this year's winners.
7. Bravo Zulu and great work to all of this year’s Hopley Yeaton Award recipients and nominees.
As always, we continue to be impressed by the sheer volume of praiseworthy nominees, as well as
the high quality award write-ups. Thank you to all commands for submitting and reviewing nominations.
8. RDML Michael P. Ryan, Assistant Commandant for Capability, sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.