ALCOAST 320/24 - AUG 2024 2024 CAPT WILLIAM J. KOSSLER AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER AWARD RECEPIENT

R 211743Z AUG 24 MID120001359991U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 320/24
SSIC 1650
SUBJ: 2024 CAPT WILLIAM J. KOSSLER AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER AWARD
RECEPIENT
1. I am pleased to announce the winner of the 2024 Coast Guard
Aeronautical Engineering Officer of the Year Award. This annual
award, presented by the Assistant Commandant for Engineering and
Logistics, and sponsored by the Coast Guard Aviation Association
(CGAA), recognizes individual accomplishments and achievements
within the Aeronautical Engineering Program.
2. CDR Chanel L. Lee has distinguished herself through her
professional competence, outstanding performance, and overall
impact to the Aeronautical Engineering mission and our workforce.
3. As the C-27J Product Line Engineer, CDR Lee served as the sole
Technical Warrant Holder for the USCG's fleet of C-27J aircraft.
In this capacity, she held the significant responsibility to assure
the airworthiness and sustainment of all facets of the platform
including systems, structures, propulsion, avionics, and maintenance
protocol. The C-27J program faced significant challenges from its
inception, requiring diligent efforts to enable its success within
the Coast Guard. At the beginning of this period, CDR Lee was
leading a robust plan to stabilize the C-27J product line. This
included restructuring the PDM overhaul process by establishing a
comprehensive Depot Maintenance Procedure Card (DMPC) deck and
addressing deficiencies in the original manufacturer's technical
data and procedures. Under her guidance, the C-27J team developed,
vetted, and approved 412 DMPCs and facilitated a professional
exchange with an expert technician from the manufacturer to refine
USCG flap and flight control rigging procedures.
4. While working these enormous efforts to stabilize the fleet and
depot overhaul processes, CDR Lee and her team faced four extended,
worldwide fleet groundings, each presenting a unique and complex
set of critical problems. Demonstrating extraordinary stamina and
discipline, CDR Lee consistently embodied a methodical,
evidence-based decision-making process, which serves as the
foundation of airworthiness. Unwilling to accept the status quo as
adequate, CDR Lee relentlessly pursued root cause analysis and
solution development, rather than settling for temporary stop-gap
measures. Showcasing her humble nature, CDR Lee often leveraged
subject matter experts both within and outside the USCG, including
contracting efforts to validate existing manufacturer analyses.
This approach ensured that each decision was backed by appropriate
analytical rigor and confidence necessary to assure the safety and
airworthiness of the fleet. Faced with increasing pressure to
restore the fleet to operational status and when continued
acceptance of longstanding discrepancies would have been easiest,
CDR Lee's steadfast commitment and unrelenting pursuit of permanent
airworthiness solutions prevailed. Her efforts resulted in a rapid
expansion of the USCG's intrinsic technical competence, alignment of
the C-27J assets with the demanding aeronautical standards we hold
in such high esteem and established the USCG as the world leader
among C-27J operators.
5. CDR Chanel Lee has left an indelible mark of excellence upon the
aeronautical engineering program and altered the course of the
global C-27 program toward a posture of sustained compliance,
grounded in evidence-based analysis and is most deserving of this
honorable recognition.
6. The selection process was extremely competitive. The panel was
impressed by the performance, leadership, commitment and noteworthy
contributions to the Aeronautical Engineering program by all of the
nominees. They are all deserving of honorable mention, and are
listed in alphabetical order:
    a. CDR Howard B. Baker Jr., Aviation Training Center
    b. AVI Randall J. Beauchamp, AIRSTA North Bend
    c. AVI Ryan R. Cottrell, Aviation Projects Acquisition Center
    d. AVI Benjamin J. Dreaper, AIRSTA Borinquen
    e. LCDR Alexander R. Lloyd, SEC Humboldt Bay
    f. CDR Daniel E. Miller, SEC San Diego
    g. AVI Craig P. Morris, AIRSTA Clearwater
    h. AVI Kenneth L. Norris, AIRSTA Kodiak
    i. LCDR Nicholas O. Peters, AIRSTA Astoria
    j. AVI Michael P. Sterrett, AIRSTA Port Angeles
7. The award will be presented to CDR Chanel L. Lee at the next
CGAA Gathering to be held in Jacksonville, FL 15-18 OCT 2024.
8. POC: CAPT E. A. Aponte, Chief, Office of Aeronautical Engineering
Edward.S.Aponte@uscg.mil.
9. RDML Amy B. Grable, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and
Logistics (CG-4), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.