ALCOAST 289/25 - JUN 2025 2024 BMCS TERRELL HORNE III EXCELLENCE IN DRUG INTERDICTION OPERATIONS AWARD WINNER

R 271305Z JUN 25   MID120002039624U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 289/25
SSIC 1650
SUBJ: 2024 BMCS TERRELL HORNE III EXCELLENCE IN DRUG INTERDICTION
OPERATIONS AWARD WINNER
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 141203Z FEB 25/ALCOAST 064/25
1. I am pleased to announce and congratulate ME2 Austin T. Cooke of
Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET) Pacific as the
recipient of the 2024 BMCS Terrell Horne III Excellence in Drug
Interdiction Operations Award.
2. As member of Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 104, ME2 Cooke
deployed aboard USCGC MUNRO (WMSL-755) for 110 days during a
JIATF-S patrol in the Eastern Pacific. He delivered actionable
guidance as the boarding officer during the interdiction of six
go-fast vessels and three low-profile vessels, resulting in the
seizure of 15,842 kilograms of cocaine, 3,092 lbs of marijuana, and
detention of 37 suspected smugglers. ME2 Cooke was instrumental in
the boardings of multiple foreign-flagged vessels, resulting in
the prosecutions of logistics support vessels and the disruption of
at least three separate drug ventures. Following LEDET 104's
deployment aboard USCGC MUNRO, ME2 Cooke transitioned to TACLET
Pacific Training staff. In this role, his expertise was critical in
providing sustainment training to 12 LEDETs, consisting of over
120 personnel, and the successful qualification of 24 newly assigned
members.
3. The runner-up for this award is LTJG Graham Luongo of Coast Guard
District Eleven for his outstanding efforts executing counter drug
operations while assigned to the PACAREA/District Eleven Command
Center.
4. Honorable mentions for this year's award are listed below in no
particular order:
ME2 Heath Patterson - Tactical Law Enforcement Team South
LCDR Gary Smedley - Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron
5. The volume of outstanding nominations made selection difficult.
Not all nominees may be aware of their nomination, so I strongly
encourage units to publicly recognize the nominees' accomplishments
and leadership examples in addition to documenting their nomination
in their performance evaluations.
6. Bravo Zulu to all the nominees and the many personnel who perform
this important mission everyday. Your efforts are vital to this
critical Homeland security mission.
7. Additional information about the award, including the winner's
award nomination, is available on the COMDT (CG-MLE-3) SharePoint
page:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cgmle/SitePages/Home.aspx

8. Direct any questions to COMDT (CG-MLE-3) POC, LT Phil Azzari,
(202) 372-2177 or Phillip.J.Azzari@uscg.mil.
9. RDML Adam A. Chamie, Assistant Commandant for Operations
Integration and Response Policy (CG-3/5R), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.