ALCOAST 055/23 - FEB 2023 CG ACADEMY ECLIPSE 13-15 APR 2023

R 101447Z FEB 23 MID200080724429U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 055/23
SSIC 1000
SUBJ: CG ACADEMY ECLIPSE 13-15 APR 2023
A. Commandant's Diversity and Inclusion Policy Statement
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 121626Z DEC 22/ALCOAST 495/22
1. Per REF (A), inclusion is an operational imperative.
Equity-minded and culturally literate leaders are key enablers to
address the complex operational and mission support challenges
of the 21st century.
2. Eclipse is a cadet-driven event established by the Coast
Guard Academy Genesis Council in the 1970s, with a strong focus
on diversity, inclusion, and mentorship. The Coast Guard Academy
invites the greater Coast Guard community, local community members,
and partners in diversity from across the nation to participate in
the mentoring and motivation of cadets to prepare them for lasting
careers as inclusive Coast Guard officers. This year's event will
be in-person with some virtual opportunities to maximize
participation.
3. This year's theme is RISE TOGETHER: Embracing Differences to
Lead the Teams of Tomorrow." This year's featured keynote speaker
is Dr. Ty Seidule, Professor Emeritus of History at West Point
where he taught for two decades. He served in the U.S. Army for
thirty-six years, retiring as a brigadier general in 2020. There
will also be a fireside chat event featuring a conversation between
RADM Kelly and Mr. Brooks Fitch. Mr. Brooks Fitch's father, Harrison
"Honey" Fitch was, on 27 January 1934, denied the opportunity to
play basketball at the Coast Guard Academy because he was African
American. This moderated conversation with Honey Fitch's son will
address the past, examine CGA's DE&I journey to date, and look
forward to a future that has learned from the mistakes of the past.
Other events include Coast Guard Academy Affinity Council-sponsored
sessions, Regimental Review, cadet talent show, mentoring, and more.
4. The greater Coast Guard community is encouraged to submit
nominations for the annual Eclipse Awards. Nominations should be
written as a narrative no longer than one page and clearly
state the award for which the person is being nominated.
The following criteria should be used to evaluate potential
nominees. Please submit nominations to: oid@uscga.edu by
Friday 10 March 2023.
    a. The Manson Brown Genesis Award is given to a Coast Guard
Academy cadet or alumnus whose forethought and commitment has
fostered a community of inclusion by establishing traditions and
practices which promote comprehension of and appreciation for
diversity. Steadfast in the pursuit to create an inclusive space
for underrepresented minority cadets while also enlightening
their peers, this motivated leader has made sustainable
contributions to the Corps of Cadets in an effort to promote
an environment free from bias and discrimination.
    b. The Merle Smith Pioneer Award is given to a member of
the Coast Guard Academy community who has accomplished
groundbreaking firsts at the Academy. This person has served
as a beacon of inspiration among their peers to strive for
the unimaginable and forge new paths of greatness through an
exceptional determination to succeed. This award is a marker
of the honor and courage required to lead, chart unfamiliar
territory, and reach heightened levels of achievement in the
face of adversity and uncertainty.
    c. The JoAnn Miller Community Award is given to a member
of the Academy or greater New London community who has worked
as an active liaison between the Academy and the City of New
London, building a bridge between the two entities. The efforts
of this recipient have made significant, lasting contributions
to the Academy, the cadets, and the New London community.
    d. The Frances Neal Humanitarian Award is bestowed upon a
cadet, alumni, staff, or faculty member who goes above and
beyond to provide support for cadets and the entire Academy
through facilitation of an environment rich in community and
comfort. This pivotal figure demonstrates an incessant passion
for the well-being of cadets and instinctively strives to
empower cadets mentally, emotionally, and academically.
The actions of this award recipient transform the Academy into
an inclusive community where all cadets can grow and be nurtured,
supported, mentored, and challenged to be dynamic leaders of
character.
    e. The Joseph Vojvodich Award is given to a Coast Guard
member who has fostered a community of inclusion by providing
mentorship from the Coast Guard field to historically
underrepresented cadets at USCGA. This inspirational leader
shows evidence of sustained commitment to mentoring that
resulted in career development of three or more mentees and
has supported the growth of each mentee's academic career as
well as providing opportunities to experience operational
Coast Guard events that move mentees toward establishing
independence in their Coast Guard career. This recipient
helps mentees to develop and sustain a network of professional
colleagues who can offer advice, training, and help. The
mentoring efforts of this individual led directly to attracting
and retaining a diverse Coast Guard workforce, dedication of
service to the Academy, and helping foster an inclusive
environment for all to appreciate.
    f. The Dr. Hallie Gregory Award is given to any member of
the greater Coast Guard community who has excelled in actively
demonstrating and promoting the unifying Core Value of Respect.
They are identified as a distinguished, unifying catalyst who
best exemplifies the Coast Guard tenets of teambuilding, teamwork,
honesty, fairness, dignity, civility, and respect. Exceeding what
is expected, this individual creates a thriving environment of
compassion, value, and opportunity for all that is clearly based
on mutual respect.
5. The Coast Guard Academy Office of Inclusion & Diversity (OID)
is the coordinator for the event and has responsibility to account
for all attendance and overall costs to DHS. In-person attendance
by participants can be unit funded via official travel or via
permissive orders. DHS requires a post-conference report to
be submitted 30 days after the event. To comply, all
travelers on official orders must submit a copy of their travel
settlement to OID via email to: oid@uscga.edu no later than
21 April 2023. Conference attendance and registration information
can be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

www.uscga.edu/eclipse

The registration page will be active in the coming weeks.
6. Commanding Officers are highly encouraged to promote award
submissions and in person or virtual attendance at Eclipse 2023.
7. Questions regarding Eclipse 2023 should be referred to the
Office of Inclusion and Diversity via email: oid@uscga.edu.
8. RADM Eric C. Jones, Deputy for Personnel Readiness
(CG-DCMS-DPR), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.