ALCOAST 300/24 - AUG 2024 COAST GUARD SELECTEES FOR THE 2023 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) SECRETARY'S ANNUAL AWARDS

R 071725Z AUG 24 MID120001329008U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 300/24
SSIC 12451
SUBJ: COAST GUARD SELECTEES FOR THE 2023 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY (DHS) SECRETARY'S ANNUAL AWARDS
1. In October 2023, the Coast Guard solicited nominations for the
annual DHS Secretary's Awards Ceremony in the following categories:
Exceptional Service Award (Gold Medal), Meritorious Service Award
(Silver Medal), Award for Leadership Excellence, Award for Valor,
Award for Innovation, Award for Team Excellence, Champion of Equity
Award, and Award for Volunteer Service. The awards honor the work,
sacrifice, and professional excellence of employees from components
all across the Department of Homeland Security.
2. Upon receipt of many 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. In July 2024, DHS released the names of recipients
of the annual Secretary's Awards.
3. On behalf of the Commandant, it is my pleasure to announce the
following Coast Guard recipients of these prestigious awards:
    a. Award for Exceptional Service (Gold Medal):
       (1) LT Lucy Wright, Enforcement Chief, Sector Key West, FL
    b. Award for Meritorious Service (Silver Medal):
       (1) CG Rescue 6566 (LEGACY), Egg Harbor Township, NJ
       (2) CG Sector New York Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Detection
& Mitigation Team, Various Locations
       (3) Maritime Security Response Team East Counter-Unmanned
Aircraft Systems Team (MSRTE C-UAS Team), Chesapeake, VA
       (4) MSU Savannah LDAC, Savannah, GA
    c. Award for Valor:
       (1) CGC LEGARE Migrant Interdiction Operations (MIO) Team,
Various Locations
       (2) Mr. Timothy Diehl, Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiner,
Baltimore, MD
    d. Award for Leadership Excellence:
       (1) LCDR Emily Marks, Chief, Investigations Division,
New Orleans, LA
       (2) Mr. Jose Cruz, Command Security Officer, San Juan, PR
    e. Award for Innovation:
       (1) USCG Short Range Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SR-UAS) Team,
Various Locations
       (2) Starlink Research Team, New London, CT
    f. Award for Team Excellence:
       (1) CG YARD 270' Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) and
Indo Pacific Support Cutter (IPSC) Team, Baltimore, MD
       (2) Leadership Development Center (LDC) Command & Operations
School, New London, CT
       (3) Operation Vigilant Sentry Annex Q Team, Various Locations
    g. Award for Champion of Equity:
       (1) LT James Gardner, Assistant Admin Officer,
Elizabeth City, NC
       (2) LT David Castillo, Marine Investigator, Miami Beach, FL
    h. Award for Volunteer Service:
       (1) LT Claire Gilliland, Small Boat Product Line Port
Engineer, Baltimore, MD
       (2) ME2 Ruth Hansen, Maritime Enforcement Specialist,
Miami Beach, FL
4. Congratulations to our Coast Guard recipients and thank you to
all the supervisors that took the time to nominate their personnel
for these prestigious awards. DHS will deliver the Secretary's
Awards at several ceremonies across the country over the next
several months to spotlight the incredible contributions of the DHS
workforce. You can view these ceremonies virtually at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.dhs.gov/live

5. Details about each award category and a complete list of award
recipients are posted on DHS's website:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.dhs.gov/2024-secretarys-awards

6. POC: Contact the COMDT (CG-1C4) Civilian Awards Team at
CivilianAwardRequests@uscg.mil.
7. Blanca A. Sanchez, Assistant Commandant for Civilian Personnel
(CG-1C), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.