ALCOAST 153/25 - MAR 2025 2024 COAST GUARD ENLISTED PERSONS OF THE YEAR (EPOY) SELECTION

R 311735Z MAR 25 MID120001825067U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 153/25
SSIC 1650
SUBJ: 2024 COAST GUARD ENLISTED PERSONS OF THE YEAR (EPOY) SELECTION
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 301441Z DEC 24/ALCOAST 485/24
B. Coast Guard Enlisted Person of the Year (EPOY) Program,
COMDTINST 1650.36D
C. Meritorious Advancement Program, COMDTINST 1430.2
1. This ALCOAST announces the selection of MK3 Bennette Swanson,
ANT Sault Sainte Marie as the 2024 Enlisted Person of the Year -
Active Duty, and ME2 Joseph Williams, PSU 309 as the 2024 Enlisted
Person of the Year - Reserve Component.
    a. Petty Officer Swanson voluntarily transferred early in
assignment year 2024 to ANT Sault Sainte Marie due to the entire
crew transferring except for the Officer in Charge. Within 90 days
of reporting to ANT Sault Sainte Marie he qualified as a TANB boat
crew member, Aids to Navigation Boat Crew, Boom/Crane Operator, and
Buoy Deck Supervisor. He directly contributed to 75 successful Aids
to Navigation missions, including 12 ATON discrepancy responses,
and two ATON operation order changes. These qualifications bolstered
operational readiness and increased connectedness as the newly
formed crew delivered mission excellence during OP FALL RETRIEVE,
safely removing 109 aids in advance of ice season while ensuring the
integrity of the Great Lakes MTS. As a dedicated community member,
Petty Officer SWANSON spent more than 100 hours volunteering at
local schools, coaching youth sports, and serving as President of
the Saint Mary's Walleye Club.
    b. Petty Officer Williams volunteered for the initial Embarked
Security Detachment-1 Guam, assisting with the acquisition of gear
for 16 members, organizing of the mission set for future PSU to
follow, and graduating the Navy Expeditionary Warfare School as the
Honor Graduate. Upon returning he once again volunteered to fill a
critical role which was vacated in the Logistics Department.
He performed duties outside of his rating as an Approving Official
for over 200 travel vouchers, ordering of gear for 120 members which
included the transfer to the Army Hot Weather Combat Uniform.
He expertly corrected 12 erroneous travel claims enabling
reimbursement of over $20,000. Additionally, he contributed to
Shoreside Security Division by sponsoring and mentoring six newly
assigned members, acquiring mission essential equipment for
38 assigned personnel, and diligently supporting readiness with
qualification data entry. Moreover, he supported the community by
assisting with laying of over 100 wreaths at veterans' gravesites
positively representing PSU 309 in the Marblehead, Ohio community.
2. Petty Officers Swanson and Williams are exceptional
Coast Guardsmen who embody our Core Values on and off duty.
3. Both EPOY winners will be Meritoriously Advanced to the next
higher pay grade and awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal
during the Senior Leadership Council event in Washington, D.C.,
on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
4. The following individuals are also worth of special recognition,
having earned nominations from their commands and the respect of
their fellow Coast Guard members as 2024 Enlisted Persons of the
Year at the District level:
    a. MK2 Garrison Reed, Station Southwest Harbor
    b. EM1 Matthew Lotito, PSU 301
    c. MK1 Efren Ortiz-Colon, Station Portsmouth
    d. ME1 Jaime Cornejo, Training Center Cape May
    e. MK1 Bradley Fox, CGC Resolute
    f. BM1 Dillon Durando, Station Ft. Lauderdale
    g. SK1 Cody Scott, CGC Reliance
    h. YN1 Julia Skrabacz, Sector Upper Mississippi River
    i. MK1 Christian Sena, MSRT-W
    j. BM1 Zachary Dominquez, Station Channel Islands
    k. BM1 Joshua Tangermann, CGC Polar Star
    l. CS1 Blake Baldwin, Base Seattle
    m. BM1 Sydney Adams, Station Honolulu
    n. IT3 James Barnes, Base Honolulu
    o. AMT3 Connor Beuthin, Air Station Kodiak
    p. IS1 Thea Ritter, Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic
5. Thank you to the numerous commands who recognized our many
high-performing enlisted personnel for a job well done.
6. POC: Enlisted Person of the Year Program is
SCPO Jetta Disco, COMDT (CG-00B) at Jetta.H.Disco@uscg.mil.
7. ADM Kevin E. Lunday, Acting Commandant (CCG) and
MCPOCG Heath B. Jones, Master Chief Petty Officer of the
Coast Guard (CG-00B), send.
8. Internet release is authorized.