ALCOAST 241/25 - MAY 2025 2024 MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS AWARD RECIPIENTS

R 281320Z MAY 25   MID120001972094U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 241/25
SSIC 1600
SUBJ: 2024 MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS AWARD
RECIPIENTS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 292004Z JAN 25/ALCOAST 034/25
1. I am pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 RADM
Sidney A. Wallace Award for Excellence in Marine Environmental
Response and Preparedness (Wallace Award). The Wallace Award
recognizes units and individual members who exemplify the highest
standards of professionalism and initiative embodied by RADM Wallace
throughout his career. The 2024 awardees were selected from
impressive nominations submitted IAW REF (A).
Thank you to all who dedicated time to highlight both unit and
individual achievements. A panel convened and reviewed the
nominations based on the following criteria:
    a. Excellence in the area of marine environmental response and
preparedness;
    b. Contributions to the Marine Environmental Response (MER)
Program;
    c. Efforts to improve coordination and cooperation among all
MER partner agencies, industry, and the public;
    d. Professional conduct in carrying out program assignments;
    e. Innovations in response and preparedness to pollution
incidents; and
    f. Furthering the goals and objectives of the MER program.
2. The 2024 Wallace Award Individual Response recipient is MSSR3
Joshua Miller from Sector Delaware Bay. Notably, he responded to
over 200 pollution incidents and led 7 federal projects, managed
$152K in federal funds and supported 37 enforcement actions yielding
over $49K in fines. He led critical responses to major oil spills,
including a 20-barrel crude oil discharge at Delaware City Refining,
where he pioneered marshland protection techniques, as well as an
8,400-gallon fuel spill in Wilmington, Delaware, where he used drone
technology for shoreline assessment and wildlife recovery. His
expert handling of the F/V SUSAN ROSE grounding saved over $800K
in federal funds and led to the vessel’s repurposing as an
artificial reef. Additionally, he co-developed a nationally adopted
Salvage Plan Checklist, improving Coast Guard salvage response
policy.
3. The 2024 Wallace Award Unit Response recipient is Sector San
Francisco. Sector San Francisco’s Incident Management Division (IMD)
demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in Marine
Environmental Response, managing 274 pollution cases and 12 federal
projects totaling over $5.8 million. They led complex responses to
major vessel pollution cases, including the Tug MAZAPETA and Cruise
Ship AURORA, protecting sensitive waterways and communities. Sector
advanced national response capabilities by launching a pioneering
gas detection program, implementing a "Grounded Vessel Playbook,"
and integrating drone and ROV technologies—saving over $435K in
response costs.
4. The 2024 Wallace Award Individual Preparedness recipient is
Ms. Elisha Cook from the Fifth Coast Guard District. Ms. Cook
streamlined Endangered Species Act consultation processes,
enabling faster, more effective coordination during high-profile
incidents including the M/V Dali bridge collapse. She led a national
overhaul of Coastal Area Contingency Plans, authored a comprehensive
guidance handbook, and organized multi-district training workshops
to ensure consistent implementation. Additionally, she developed and
delivered targeted hurricane preparedness training, enhancing
environmental unit capabilities during severe weather events.
5. The 2024 Wallace Award Unit Preparedness recipient is Sector
Southeastern New England. Sector Southeastern New England
significantly enhanced regional environmental protection through
its pioneering "Clean Water Campaign" targeting illegal bilge
dumping and by leading the Coast Guard’s first-ever Preparedness
for Response Exercise with the offshore wind industry—setting a
national model for future energy projects. The Sector revitalized
Federal On-Scene Coordinator Representative (FOSCR) training,
supported national research initiatives in oil spill detection,
and expanded UAS capabilities, including cross-agency cooperation.
6. The 2024 Wallace Award Team recipient is the M/T TERRA NOVA
Response Team. The M/T TERRA NOVA, which sank in Manila Bay,
Philippines, in July 2024 with 1.49 million liters of industrial
fuel oil onboard, posed a major spill threat. In response, the
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) requested U.S. assistance, leading
to the National Response Team (NRT) activation and deployment of a
response team The M/T TERRA NOVA Response Team provided critical
support from August 3-17, including oil spill modeling, technical
assessments, and incident command restructuring. Key achievements
include restructuring the response command to improve coordination,
conducting joint information center training, and fostering
international cooperation through a trilateral meeting with the
Japan Coast Guard and PCG. The team also supported other spill
incidents in the region and enhanced overall regional spill response
capabilities.
7. While not selected for the 2024 award, the following honorable
mentions are commended for their outstanding contributions to
Marine Environmental Response and Protection efforts:
    a. MST1 Claudio Giugliano, Atlantic Strike Team
    b. Atlantic Strike Team
    c. Sector Maryland National Capital Region
    d. MST3 Tyler Malone, Sector North Carolina
    e. Pelican Island Response Team, Galveston, Texas
8. Bravo Zulu to all our above winners. The efforts of all
members are commendable and in keeping with the legacy of
RADM Sidney A. Wallace. The selection process was thorough and
thoughtful. All units and members should be proud of their
continued efforts to support the MER mission.
9. In addition to the extraordinary achievements noted by the
Wallace Award Unit and Individual recipients, I applaud the
continued environmental response and preparedness efforts
conducted on a day-to-day basis. Stay safe in the field and we
look forward to reviewing next year's submissions. Semper Paratus!
10. POC: LT Allison Wrieden, COMDT (CG-MER-1) at
Allison.M.Wrieden@uscg.mil or (202) 372-2253.
11. Ms. Dana S. Tulis, Director of Emergency Management
(CG-5RI), sends.
12. Internet release is authorized.