ALCOAST 437/20 - DEC 2020 SELECTEES FOR THE 2020 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) SECRETARY’S ANNUAL AWARDS

R 041407 DEC 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-12//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N12451//
ALCOAST 437/20
COMDTNOTE 12451
SUBJ:  SELECTEES FOR THE 2020 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) SECRETARY’S ANNUAL AWARDS
1. In July 2020, nominations were solicited for Coast Guard personnel
(civilian and military) for the 2020 DHS Secretary’s Annual Awards Ceremony
in the following categories: Exceptional Service Award (Gold Medal), Meritorious
Service Award (Silver Medal), Award for Exemplary Service (Bronze Medal equivalent),
Award for Leadership Excellence, Award for Valor (Individual or Team), Award for
Outstanding Achievement in Diversity Management, Award for Volunteer Service, and
Award for COVID-19 Pandemic Heroism (Individual or Team). Upon receipt of several
outstanding nominations, the Coast Guard Awards Review Board reviewed and submitted
recommendations to the Commandant for approval prior to forwarding to DHS for final
consideration. On 24 November 2020, DHS released the names of recipients of the 2020
Secretary’s Awards.
2. On behalf of the Commandant, it is my pleasure to announce the following Coast
Guard recipients of these prestigious awards:
    a. Award for Meritorious Service (Silver Medal):
        (1) CAPT James D. Warner, Air Station Clearwater, Clearwater, FL
    b. Award for Exemplary Service:
        (1) ME1 Craig M. Oravitz, TACLET South, Opa Locka, FL
    c. Award for Valor (Team):
        (1) 6531 and 6544 Golden Ray Response Team:
             (a) LCDR Michael M. Vickers, Air Station Savannah, Savannah, GA
             (b) LT Robert L. Mineo, Air Station Savannah, Savannah, GA
             (c) LT Jeb S. Slick, Air Station New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
             (d) LTJG Maximillian S. Sherno, Air Station Savannah, Savannah, GA
             (e) AST1 Eric F. Young, Air Station Savannah, Savannah, GA
             (f) AST1 Nathan E. Newberg, Air Station Savannah, Savannah, GA
             (g) AET2 Joseph H. Kelly, Aviation Training Center Mobile, Mobile, AL
             (h) AMT2 Jared T. Blitz, Air Station Savannah, Savannah, GA
    d. Award for COVID-19 Pandemic Heroism (Team):
        (1) Cruise Ship Grand Princess COVID-19 Response Team:
             (a) CAPT Marie B. Byrd, Sector San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
             (b) CDR David D. Dixon, Sector San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
             (c) LCDR Rebecca W. Sheehan, Sector San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
             (d) LCDR Megan K. Mervar, Sector San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
             (e) LCDR Megan A. Dennelly, Sector San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
             (f) LCDR Tyler J. White, Base Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
             (g) LCDR Edward P. Kunigonis, Sector San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
             (h) LCDR Jason L. Berger, MSST San Francisco, Alameda, CA
             (i) LT Nolan K. Salyer, USCGC TERN, San Francisco, CA
             (j) LT Brandon R. Belveal, Sector San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
             (k) LTJG Alexander J. LaBelle, USCGC PIKE, San Francisco, CA
             (l) BOSN3 Craig C. Ross, Station Golden Gate, Sausalito, CA
             (m) BMCS Jose M. Segura, Air Station San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
             (n) Mr. Robert A. Blomerth, Sector San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
             (o) LCDR Frank A. Strom, Sector San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
    e. Award for Leadership Excellence:
        (1) LTJG Bartholomew J. Sullivan, Sector Miami, Miami Beach, FL
    f. Award for Volunteer Service:
       (1) CDR James K. Cullen, II, COMDT (CG-821), Washington, DC
3. Congratulations to our Coast Guard recipients. The 2020 DHS Secretary’s Awards
will be presented in a virtual ceremony on 9 December 2020 at 1400 hours. All DHS
employees are encouraged to view the virtual ceremony, and DHS will send an email
with the link for viewing on the day of the event. Thank you to all the supervisors
that took the time to nominate their personnel for these prestigious awards.  
4. If you have questions regarding individual and team award information, please
contact Ms. Ruth M. Shields, POC, COMDT (CG-124), (202) 795-6254 or Ruth.M.Shields@uscg.mil.
5. Ms. Michelle R. Godfrey, Director of Civilian Human Resources, Diversity and Leadership,
sends.
6. Internet release is authorized.