ALCOAST 250/25 - JUN 2025 2024 AUXILIARY INTEGRATION AWARD PROGRAM RESULTS

R 041550Z JUN 25 MID120001985733U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 250/25
SSIC 1650
SUBJ: 2024 AUXILIARY INTEGRATION AWARD PROGRAM RESULTS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 031508Z JAN 25/ALCOAST 002/25
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 131800Z MAR 25/ALCOAST 120/25
1. I am pleased to announce the recipients of the annual Commodore
Viggo C. Bertelsen, Jr. and Vice Admiral John P. Currier Awards
along with the District Director of Auxiliary of the Year Award.
Bravo Zulu to the following:
    a. Enhanced Mission Support Award: USCGC CHEYENNE (WLR 75405)
demonstrated exceptional integration of Coast Guard Auxiliary
support by utilizing Auxiliary Culinary Assistants (AUXCA-1) to
provide over 900 meals during five deployments, maintain galley
operations through personnel gaps, and host a formal training
program that qualified six new AUXCA-1s. The unit also established
a security watchstander program with over 30 days of Auxiliary
participation that supported real-world SAR operations, facilitated
damage control and security training, and partnered with Auxiliary
Public Affairs to significantly enhance mission readiness and
community engagement.
    b. Enhanced Operations Award: AIR STATION MIAMI's Auxiliary team
completed 1,776 operational patrol hours across a fleet of 18
Auxiliary aircraft. These assets supported Sector Key West, Sector
Miami, and other homeland security operations, performed a record
402 missions, and saved the Service $12.4M in operating costs. Their
efforts also included critical post-Hurricane Milton flights to help
restore port operations, 22 mid-air diverts to conduct SAR missions,
and sustained presence along maritime approaches, all while
seamlessly integrated into daily operations and training alongside
active-duty crews.
    c. Applied Innovation Award: SECTOR HOUSTON-GALVESTON established
strategic Auxiliary partnerships and educational initiatives,
including establishment of a chartered Auxiliary University Program
at Texas A&M, development of the Coast Guard's first awards program
for STEM students, and integration of Auxiliary support into its
Partnership in Education team that garnered recognition for
excellence. SECTOR HOUSTON-GALVESTON also led beta testing of the
Coast Guard Unmanned Aircraft Systems program which included the
use of Auxiliary UAS pilots in support of oil spill response, SAR,
and hurricane recovery operations which significantly enhanced its
operational capability and agility.
    d. District Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX, dpa) of the Year:
CDR STEVEN A. KOCH led Auxiliary administration and operations
across the Southern and Northern Regions of the First District by
supporting over 4,400 members, 289,000 Auxiliary mission hours, and
255 surface and 16 air assets. He launched the district's first
Auxiliary Paddlecraft (AUXPAD) Ashore Program, expanded Coast Guard
officer commissioning pipelines through the Auxiliary University
Program resulting in 11 new Coast Guard officer accessions, and
organized an Auxiliary District Training (DTRAIN) event that
delivered 37 training topics to over 350 Auxiliarists.
2. Honorable mention goes to the following nominees by category:
    a. Enhanced Mission Support Award: AVIATION TRAINING CENTER
resourcefully integrated Auxiliarists across flight operations,
medical and spiritual support, and mission coordination. This
yielded more than 1,550 Auxiliary flight hours for pilot training,
support of 80 aviator qualifications, and critical contributions
to SAR, HC-144 drop training, and rescue swimmer proficiency.
    b. Enhanced Operations Award: SECTOR LAKE MICHIGAN effectively
leveraged Auxiliary resources to bolster its SAR coverage, fill
critical station staffing gaps, and ensure uninterrupted radio
communications and a safeguarded public during a Rescue 21 outage.
    c. Applied Innovation Award: INVESTIGATIONS NATIONAL CENTER OF
EXPERTISE creatively integrated Auxiliarists into its marine
casualty investigations and public hearings. Most notably, it
adeptly leveraged Auxiliary expertise in video production, forensic
animation, data analysis, publication design, and interpreter
services as part of the investigation into the TITAN submersible
tragedy.
3. Nominations were received by 16 Coast Guard units and all of
them conveyed exceptionally novel and beneficial integration of
Auxiliary resources into Coast Guard mission support and execution.
I applaud the outstanding actions of all awardees and nominees.
Your integration of the Auxiliary in fresh and effective ways has
increased Coast Guard mission efficiency and provided inspirational
models for all Coast Guard units.
4. Plaques for the Commodore Viggo C. Bertelsen, Jr. and Vice
Admiral John P. Currier Awards will be sent to the cognizant DIRAUX
for coordination of appropriate presentation. The DIRAUX of the Year
award will be presented in August.
5. The nine-member selection panel thoroughly reviewed and
deliberated the nomination packages across all four categories.
Panel members were:
    a. COMO John P. Feighery, Auxiliary Vice National Commodore
    b. CAPT Brent R. Schmadeke, CG-BSX
    c. CDR Eustacia Y. Weist, CG-BSX-1
    d. LCDR Callan E. Fless, CG-BSX-2
    e. LT David Castillo, CG-7412
    f. BMCM Travis R. Park, CG-BSX-12
    g. YNC Samantha M. Tober, CG-BSX-11
    h. Mr. Stephen J. Minutolo, CG-BSX-11
    i. Mr. David T. Goff, CG-BSX-11
6. POC: Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety
(CG-BSX-11) at hqs-smb-bsx-cgaux@uscg.mil.
7. RADM W. R. Arguin, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy
(CG-5P), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.