ALCOAST 152/21 - APR 2021 2020 WANDA ALLEN-YEAROUT OMBUDSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENT

united states coast guard

R 191321Z APR 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 152/21
SSIC 1754
SUBJ: 2020 WANDA ALLEN-YEAROUT OMBUDSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
RECIPIENT
1. I am pleased to announce Mrs. Jennifer Walker, ombudsman
for Port Security Unit 308, Gulfport MS, is the recipient
of the 2020 Wanda Allen-Yearout Ombudsman of the Year Award.
2. Mrs. Walker is deeply committed to supporting CG members
and their families. She served as the primary nexus between
120 mobilized reserve members and their family members during
a nine-month overseas deployment. She served during the pandemic,
an unprecedented hurricane season that affected families across
five states, and participated in Yellow Ribbon events that
transitioned to virtual events.
3. She personally assisted 27 family members that encountered
impactful weather damage or displacement due to the hurricanes
and tropical storms. She capitalized on Coast Guard and local
resources to obtain recovery and repair resources effectively
decreasing family stress levels and that of deployed members
downrange.
4. The following District level recipients and nominees also
deserve special recognition for their particularly noteworthy
accomplishments:
    a. District One, Mrs. Christina Webb, USCGC OAK,
    b. District Five, Mrs. Tabitha Vogan, CG Aviation Logistics
Center,
    c. District Seven, Mrs. Kathryn Nicolai, USCGC ISAAC MAYO,
    d. District Nine, Mrs. Lisa Repa, Sector Sault Sainte Marie,
    e. District Eleven, Mrs. Abbigail McCracken, Sector San Diego,
CG ANT San Diego, USCGC HADDOCK, USCGC PETREL, USCGC SEA OTTER,
Electronics Support Detachment San Diego, and CG STA San Diego,
    f. District Thirteen, Mrs. Alliena Hylkema, CG STA Yaquina Bay,
    g. District Fourteen, Mrs. Rachel Blaisdell, CG STA Honolulu
and Sector Honolulu, ANT Honolulu, and MSD American Samoa, and
    h. District Seventeen, Mrs. Elycia Steenbergen, CG Air Station
Kodiak and CG Ant Kodiak.
5. The selection panel members were:
    a. Master Chief Charles Bushey, COMDT (CG-00B),
    b. Master Chief Devin Spencer, LANTAREA,
    c. Master Chief Heath Jones, PACAREA,
    d. Master Chief Timothy Beard, PACAREA Reserve, and
    e. Ms. Rose Neel, COMDT (CG-1112).
6. It was a particularly challenging selection due to all
the great work performed by our Coast Guard ombudsmen this
year and the significant challenges they faced with an ongoing
pandemic, extreme weather events, and national protests calling
for racial justice. I applaud all the nominees for their
accomplishments and their commanding officers for taking
the time to submit well-deserved nominations. I encourage
all leaders to recognize their ombudsman by submitting
nominations next year for the 2021 Wanda Allen-Yearout
Ombudsman of the Year Award. The 2020 awardees demonstrated
outstanding professionalism in carrying out their duties.
Bravo Zulu for a job well done.
7. COMDT (CG-1112) POC for the Coast Guard Ombudsman Program
is Ms. Christine Degraw at Christine.M.Degraw@uscg.mil.
8. RADM Dana L. Thomas, Director, Health, Safety and Work-Life
(CG-11), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.