ALCOAST 238/25 - MAY 2025 2024 CAPTAIN NIELS P. THOMSEN INNOVATION AWARDS RECIPIENTS

R 231940Z MAY 25 MID120001965475U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 238/25
SSIC 5224
SUBJ: 2024 CAPTAIN NIELS P. THOMSEN INNOVATION AWARDS RECIPIENTS
1. I am pleased to announce and congratulate the recipients of the
2024 Captain Niels P. Thomsen Innovation Awards, as chosen by the
Research, Development and Innovation Governance Council (RDIGC).
2. The U.S. Coast Guard Strategy relies on every member of our
Service to embrace "a culture of innovation [that] will help us
quickly develop new solutions to the most pressing problems and
deploy them seamlessly into everyday mission execution." This year's
award recipients' bias for action inspires our workforce to discover
new ways to enhance our nation's maritime safety, security and
prosperity. Their imaginative solutions improve workforce
resiliency, streamline procurement processes, leverage technology
to maximize mission effectiveness and support the health and
wellbeing of our current and future workforce.
3. The 2024 award recipients by category are:
    a. Science or Technology:
Maritime Safety Information (MSI) Application: Interactive
Geographic Information System (GIS) Display with
Near-Real-Time Data Updates
     (1) Mr. Michael J. Baca, NAVCEN
     (2) Mr. Christopher Erskine, NAVCEN
     (3) Mr. Eugene Diotalevi, NAVCEN
     (4) CWO-2 Matthew Cole, NAVCEN
     (5) LTJG Cameron Craveiro, NAVCEN
     (6) Ms. Thea Petzling, NAVCEN
     (7) Ms. Lora Blackburn, NAVCEN
     (8) Mr. Brandon Blanchard, NAVCEN
     (9) Mr. General Franklin, NAVCEN
     (10) Mr. Scott Meyer, NAVCEN
     (11) Ms. Terry Yancoskie, NAVCEN
     (12) Mr. Matthew Will, NAVCEN
     (13) Ms. Tuyen Do, NAVCEN
    b. Operations or Readiness:
Automated Logs: A QR-Enabled Logging System that Optimizes
Data Entry for Maintenance
     (1) MKC Emily Matter, USCGC William Chadwick
     (2) ET1 Emmanuel Barber, USCGC William Chadwick
    c. Administration, Training, or Support:
Naval Engineering Agile Operations & Fabrications
(A Collection of 11 Innovations)
     (1) CDR Matthew Eyler, BASE BOSTON
     (2) GM1 Thomas Miles, WAT BOSTON
     (3) ET2 Angelo Russo, BASE BOSTON
     (4) MK1 Joseph Holt, CGC TAMPA
     (5) Mr. Jeb McCandless, IPF BOSTON
     (6) Mr. Michael Jacobs, IPF BOSTON
     (7) Mr. Gordon Olson, IPF BOSTON
     (8) Mr. Jake Sawyer, IPF BOSTON
     (9) Mr. Gabriel Fragodt, IPF BOSTON
     (10) Mr. Joshua Sherman, IPF BOSTON
     (11) Mr. Magdaleno Medina, IPF BOSTON
     (12) Mr. Christopher Benson, IPF BOSTON
     (13) Mr. Chad Adams, IPF BOSTON
     (14) Mr. Peter Murray, BASE BOSTON
     (15) Mr. Brendan Henry, IPF BOSTON
     (16) Mr. John Cullen, IPD South Weymouth
     (17) Mr. Dominick Tolson, IPD South Weymouth
     (18) Mr. Mike Derrico, IPF BOSTON
     (19) Mr. Andre Lopez, IPF BOSTON
    d. Culture Change:
Total Guardian
     (1) LT Jamie Lane, BASE BOSTON
     (2) LCDR Marvin Pena, BASE BOSTON
     (3) LCDR Katerina Faya, 99 MDG
     (4) LT Amanda Benson, BASE NCR HSWL
     (5) CAPT Timothy Pappalardo, BASE BOSTON
     (6) HSCS Heather Johnson, BASE BOSTON
     (7) CWO Matthew Reines, BASE CAPE COD
     (8) HS1 Michael Miozzi, SEC N NEW ENG
     (9) HS1 Luke Deckert, SFO SOUTHWEST HBR
     (10) HS2 George Littleton, BASE BOSTON
     (11) HSC Leah Halford, NSA Bahrain
     (12) HS1 Christine NGO, BASE NCR
     (13) HS3 Jake Prusha, BASE BOSTON
     (14) CAPT Chad Brick, BASE BOSTON
     (15) CDR Paul Alexander, BASE BOSTON
     (16) CMC Sean Fullwood, BASE BOSTON
    e. Coast Guard Auxiliary Achievement:
Cloud-Based Debris Field and Hazard Mapping Techniques
Utilizing GPS Tracking Capabilities
     (1) AUX Benjamin Newby, New River Flotilla
     (2) AUX Cameron Alemand, New River Flotilla
     (3) AUX Steve Holcomb, New River Flotilla
    f. Commander Joel Magnussen Innovation Award for Management:
The Coast Guard Global Dashboard for International Activities
and Engagements
     (1) CAPT Tamara Wallen, COMDT (CG-DCO-I-1)
     (2) LT Zachary Thomas, COMDT (CG-DCO-I-1)
     (3) LT Hessamoddin Shafeian, COMDT (CG-DCO-I-2)
     (4) LT Rebecca Edmonds, COMDT (CG-DCO-I-2)
4. The Coast Guard RDIGC reviewed 51 award nominations received
through CG_Ideas@Work. The 2024 nominees embody the exceptionally
innovative spirit of our workforce and their efforts have made a
tangible impact in our Service. We encourage all Coast Guard members
to be bold, think differently, and innovate for results. Additional
information about these and other exceptional ideas may be viewed
at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://cg-ideasatwork.ideascalegov.com/c/

5. Although only a few of the many nominations can be selected for
an award each year, the RDIGC would also like to recognize this
year's Honorable mentions for each of the award categories:
     a. Science or Technology:
Waterways Management Marine Event Permit Dashboard
     (1) Mr. Jason Kelley, SEC N Carolina
     (2) LCDR Carl Hendrickson, COMDT (CG-OES-3)
     (3) LT Zack West, SEC N Carolina
     (4) MSTC Shawn Stanley, SEC Key West
     (5) MST1 Eric Gordon, SEC San Juan
Hydraguard: Electric P6 Pump Alternative
     (1) Cadet-4 Gabriel Niles, USCGA
     b. Operations or Readiness:
GIS Collaboration in the Key Bridge Response
     (1) LCDR Ian Hanna, District 5
     (2) AUX Fred Dolbow, SEC MD/NCR
     (3) Ms. Amilynn Adams, CG NAVCEN
     (4) AUX Jesse Scott, NCR
Transforming Data into Action: Patrol Boat Product Line
Dashboard - Leveraging Existing Infrastructure for
Data-Informed Decisions
     (1) LCDR Kevin Robinson, SFLC-PBPL
     (2) LT Lizbett Cordero, SFLC-PBPL
     (3) Mr. Chris Stanley, SFLC-PBPL
     (4) CDR Frank Reed, SFLC-Norfolk
     (5) LCDR Ryan Montvydas, SFLC-PBPL
     (6) ENS Wilfred DeRouen, SFLC-PBPL
     (7) LT Benner Geurtsen, SFLC-MAT KINGS BAY
     (8) LTJG Thomas Uhl, SFLC-PBPL
     (9) Mr. Michael Parrish, SFLC-PBPL
     c. Administration, Training, or Support:
Modernizing Firearms Training Simulation by Leveraging
Augmented/Virtual Reality Technologies
     (1) ME1 Jordan Ford, SMTC
     (2) MEC Andrew Webster, SMTC
E-Contingency - 213 Resource Request System
     (1) CAPT Chad Brick, Base Boston
     (2) Mr. Michael Fragano, COMDT (CG-834)
     (3) Ms. Jackie Dickson, LOG-92
     (4) Mr. Ray Dalton, COMDT (CG-834)
     (5) Mr. Josh Kingett, COMDT (CG-834)
     (6) Mr. JJ Obrien, COMDT (CG-834)
     d. Culture Change:
Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) Integrated Product Team
Leader
     (1) LTJG Megan Wadleigh, SFLC-IBCTPL
FORCECOM & TCCML: Expanding the Opportunity for Military
Service to Previously Ineligible Candidates
     (1) FSPC Planning Team, FORCECOM, CG TRACEN
     e. Coast Guard Auxiliary Achievement:
SAROPS to ForeFlight Search Pattern Transfer
     (1) AUX Bill Melohn, D14 AUX
     f. CDR Joel Magnussen Innovation Award for Management:
EZ-Supply - A Game-Changing Aggregated Purchasing Utility
     (1) LCDR Michael Higbie, Base Boston
     (2) LCDR Tim Hulse, D11
     (3) LT Josh Guthlein, Base Boston
     (4) SKC Miranda Haywood, Base Boston
     (5) SKC Chelsea Colson, Base Boston
     (6) SKC Emily Neilson, Base Boston
     (7) SK1 Sean Hurley, Base Boston
Transforming Maritime Security: Driving a Culture Shift
Towards Intelligence-Driven Boardings
     (1) IS1 Brandon Cash-Fanshaw, SEC N Carolina
     (2) LTJG Cameron Howell, SEC N Carolina
     (3) Mr. William G Balsinger, C5ISC Kearneysville
     (4) CDR Bobbie-Jean Felix, DCMS-55
6. The Innovation Awards ceremony was held on 30 April 2025 during
the spring Strategic Study and Design Program. Additional
information regarding this and other Research, Development and
Innovation activities can be found at the Innovation Portal at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cg9/2/6/Innovation/SitePages/
HomePage.aspx

and on the web at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/cg9/rdt-e/innovation/

7. POC: Please direct any questions to COMDT (CG-926) Research,
Development, and Innovation Program at:
Innovation@uscg.mil.
8. Mr. James Knight, Deputy Assistant Commandant for Acquisition
and Director of Acquisition Services (CG-9D), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.