ALCOAST 047/19 - FEB 2019 COPERNICUS AWARDS SELECTIONS

R 140839 FEB 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-6//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01650//
ALCOAST 047/19
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ:  COPERNICUS AWARDS SELECTIONS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 151630 OCT 18/ALCOAST 357/18
1. This ALCOAST recognizes the winners of the 2019 Armed Forces Communications and
Electronics Association (AFCEA)/U.S. Naval Institute (USNI) Copernicus Awards program
outlined in REF (A). The Copernicus Awards were established to recognize individual
contributions to operations and mission support within the cyberspace domain. The
members below made exemplary contributions within the Coast Guard Command, Control,
Communications, Computers, Cyber, and Intelligence (C5I) community during 2018.
2. I am honored to announce the Coast Guard recipients of the 2018 Copernicus Awards:
   a. IT2 James T. Fitzgerald, Coast Guard Cyber Protection Team. Petty Officer
Fitzgerald excelled as an Analyst on special assignment with the Department of Homeland
Security as a subject matter expert. He provided critical technical analysis of malicious
cyber threats targeting the nation's critical infrastructures. A Certified Information
Systems Security Professional, he also helped develop the Flyaway Incident Response Kit.
He additionally was published on the DHS website for a Digital Signatures whitepaper.
   b. ET2 Chrystopher L. Sapp, USCGG MONOMOY (WPB 1326). Petty Officer Sapp, on reporting
to MONOMOY, took on numerous C5I maintenance discrepancies, including Agile Client and
Seawatch, restoring them and providing six additional cutters the same corrective actions.
His actions saved an estimated $10K in contract work. His input to several Island class
working groups significantly their ability to contribute to FIFTH Fleet missions.
   c. ISM2 Jason A. Steele, COMDT (CG-761). CWO Steele, as the Multi-User Objective System
(MUOS) Program Manager, executed a $160M acquisition that is to recapitalize all the Coast
Guard's military satellite equipment. He defined a plan for the first time that will
deploy MUOS equipment to over 300 units around the world. He was also the Coast Guard's
representative on the DoD HF Wideband Working Group, developing new generation radio
requirements.
3. Join me in congratulating the award recipients on their contributions and success.
This DoD wide recognition is a testament to the tremendous effort the Coast Guard is making
at all levels of the Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I),
Cyber Operations and Information Warfare communities.
4. All Copernicus Award winners will receive an invitation from AFCEA and USNI inviting
them, their spouse/guest, and their Commanding Officer to attend an awards reception and
presentation ceremony 13-15 February 2019 at the AFCEA/USNI West Conference in San Diego, CA.
Attire is Service Dress Blue and business attire for civilians. For more information go to:
https://www.afcea.org/site/?q=awards/copernicus.
5. COMDT (CG-6) POC for the award and any additional questions, contact COMDT (CG-6EA),
CDR Lisa Garcez at 202-475-3553 or Lisa.L.Garcez@uscg.mil.
6. RDML David Dermanelian, Assistant Commandant for C4IT and Commander, CG CYBER, sends.
7. Internet release is authorized.