ALCOAST 351/25 - AUG 2025 2025 ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA (AFRAS) GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS AND GEOFF PAGELS SAR PROFESSIONALS OF THE YEAR AWARDS RECIPIENTS

R 141848Z AUG 25 MID180001946039U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 351/25
SSIC 16100
SUBJ: 2025 ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA (AFRAS) GOLD AND SILVER
MEDALS AND GEOFF PAGELS SAR PROFESSIONALS OF THE YEAR AWARDS
RECIPIENTS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 271947Z JAN 25/ALCOAST 027/25
1. Per REF (A), this ALCOAST announces the recipients of the 2025
AFRAS Gold Medal, Chairman's Award, and Geoff Pagels SAR
Professionals of the Year awards. The Gold Medal and Chairman's
Award recognize acts of extraordinary bravery during rescues at sea.
The Geoff Pagels SAR Professionals of the Year awards recognize the
outstanding contributions of Coast Guard SAR professionals.
2. 2025 Award Recipients.
    a. AFRAS Gold Medal. The 2025 AFRAS Gold Medal is awarded to
Aviation Survival Technician Second Class (AST2) James Chandler,
Air Station Houston, for his heroic actions that resulted in saving
eight lives on the night of 28 MAY 2024.
      (1) Coast Guard Sector Houston/Galveston received an urgent
distress call from a 40-foot dive boat 45NM offshore from Galveston,
Texas. The vessel, operated by the Texas A&M dive team with eight
people on board, suffered a propulsion casualty and was rapidly
taking on water in 30-knot winds that generated 8–10-foot seas. To
complicate the situation, large bands of severe thunderstorms
stalled over the area and were battering the vessel and its crew.
Battling low ceilings, high winds, strong seas, and severe
thunderstorms, Coast Guard helicopter CG-6570 and AST2 Chandler
prepared for several challenging hoist evolutions that would be
required to save all eight lives.
      (2) After arriving on-scene, AST2 Chandler immediately noticed
the deteriorating weather, dire situation of the vessel, and people
on board. Due to the sea state, AST2 Chandler elected to be hoisted
to the water and swam 50 yards to the disabled vessel to further
assess the situation and prepare the survivors to be hoisted.
Struggling with sea sickness and fatigue during the five-hour
evolution, AST2 Chandler provided direction to the air crew and
survivors to ensure the safe delivery and recovery of the rescue
basket to the pitching vessel.
      (3) Upon reaching the helicopter's maximum weight and capacity
limitations, CG-6570 was forced to return to shore to deliver
survivors twice, thus leaving AST2 Chandler to manage the chaotic
scene. His willingness to remain on the sinking vessel to provide
assistance ensured the safety of those remaining should the vessel
capsize. A second helicopter, also from Air Station Houston, arrived
on scene two hours later to hoist the remaining people. Once all
eight survivors had been rescued, AST2 Chandler was finally
recovered from the churning seas and returned to Air Station
Houston.
    b. Chairman's Award. The Chairman's Award is awarded to
Auxiliarist Jason Leck, Auxiliary Flotilla 053-08-05, in recognition
of his actions that resulted in rescuing a person in distress in
Brigantine, New Jersey, on the night of 25 JUN 2024.
      (1) At approximately 2330 Auxiliarist Leck and his wife,
Tina Leck, were awakened by their neighbor frantically yelling,
"Someone was in the water, drowning, and screaming for help."
They immediately ran back into the house, called 911, then proceeded
to the boat dock and prepared to get underway.
      (2) The cloud coverage was heavy, providing limited light over
the water. Auxiliarist Leck notified the Coast Guard of the
situation and that they were enroute to a person in the water (PIW).
Auxiliarist Leck began a search pattern based on where his boat left
the dock and where they could hear the frantic yelling. After
several passes Auxiliarist Leck was able to locate the PIW, brought
his boat alongside, and threw the person a life ring. Using a line
and the life ring, Auxiliarist Leck was able to bring the person
approximately 50 yards to the dock where local fire, emergency
medical services, and police were waiting to assist.
    c. 2025 Geoff Pagels SAR Professionals of the Year award for
Outstanding Professionalism in the Planning and Coordination of a
SAR Mission. The Sector St. Petersburg Command Center team is the
recipient of the 2025 award.
      (1) The Sector St. Petersburg Command Center team is commended
for their extraordinary efforts during the Fishing Vessel Captain
Dave SAR case amidst the destructive forces of Hurricane Milton. The
team, comprising dedicated Search Mission Coordinators, Command Duty
Officers, and members of the Operations, Situation, and
Communications Units, demonstrated unparalleled skill and unwavering
dedication, culminating in the rescue of Mr. Joseph Tessa, including
his recovery 20 hours after his vessel capsized in severe hurricane
conditions, with 75-90 knot winds and 20–25-foot seas.
      (2) The Command Center team diligently tracked the vessel,
established critical communication schedules, and when contact was
lost and distress beacon alerts were received, swiftly responded.
The team's meticulous planning included utilizing the Coast Guard
Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System (SAROPS) and reverse drift
modeling, enabling precise deployment of an MH-60 helicopter, C-144
aircraft, and two MH-65 Dolphin helicopters. Even as the Command
Center relocated to Sector Mobile due to Hurricane Milton's impact,
the team's operational capacity and resiliency remained steadfast,
ensuring seamless continuity and ultimately locating Mr. Tessa alive
in a fishing cooler, 15 miles offshore.
      (3) The Command Center team demonstrated extraordinary
commitment to the Coast Guard SAR mission in the face of extreme
personal hardship, with over 50 percent of personnel sustaining home
damage. Their ability to maintain top-tier search planning and
execution, adapt to a rapidly evolving high-risk environment, and
coordinate a complex, multi-asset rescue under the most adverse conditions,
reflects the very essence of the SAR Professionals of the Year award.
      (4) The following members of the Sector St. Petersburg Command
Center team are included in this award: SAR Mission Coordinators:
CDR Ben Stanley and LCDR Dana Grady. Command Duty Officers: Mr.
Richard Hutchinson, LT Casey Skomer, OSC Jean Latimer, and OSC Aaron
Bolton. Operations Unit: OS1 Joseph Catell, OS1 Destin Dinapolis,
OS1 Brian Haley, LTJG Destiny Johnson (B/I), and OS1 Kekoa Taijeron
(B/I). Situation Unit: OS2 Chase Russell, OS2 Erin Girard, and OS1
Justin Merriam. Communications Unit: OS3 Samantha Rajala, OS3 Omar
Garcia, OS3 Landreth, OS3 Ariana Myers, and OS2 Anya Reese (B/I).
    d. 2025 Geoff Pagels SAR Professionals of the Year Award for
outstanding contribution to the SAR mission readiness of Coast Guard
SAR Professionals. Mr. Rodger P. Krass Jr., Sector New York, is the
recipient of the 2025 award. Mr. Krass is recognized for his
extraordinary and multi-faceted contributions to Coast Guard SAR
mission readiness, exemplifying the award’s criteria for outstanding
achievement in training, relationship building, and mentorship.
      (1) With over 30 years of dedicated service, Mr. Krass's
commitment to equipping SAR professionals is evident in his
development of a multi-day SAROPS functional exercise, coordination
of annual flare training for dozens of watch standers, and
facilitation of Team Coordination Training across Sector New York.
Mr. Krass's dedication to fostering the next generation of SAR
leaders is highlighted by his design of tailored training plans for
numerous watch standers and his pivotal role in updating the
Northeast District/Joint Rescue Coordination Center Boston SAR Plan,
followed by comprehensive training for its implementation.
      (2) Mr. Krass's profound impact on SAR system readiness
extends through his exceptional relationship building and leadership
in challenging operational environments. As a primary SAR Mission
Coordinator for Sector New York, he skillfully oversaw more than 104
cases, leading to 40 lives saved and significant property recovery.
Mr. Krass's expertise in plans and exercises was instrumental in his
support for the planning of the John F. Kennedy International
Airport's Mass Rescue Operations exercise. Additionally, Mr. Krass's
60-day deployment as Communications Unit Leader (COML) during the
Key Bridge disaster response, where he managed vital communications,
and his leadership as COML for the United Nations General Assembly,
underscore his remarkable ability to forge and manage interagency
relationships, ensuring seamless information flow and operational
coordination during nationally significant events.
      (3) Mr. Krass's unwavering dedication, instructional
excellence, and commitment to develop the skills and understanding
of future SAR mission leaders, continues to enable disciplined
decision-making in complex and high-consequence environments.
3. In addition to the Gold Medal, Chairman's Medal, and the Geoff
Pagels SAR Professionals of the Year award recipients, all 2025
award nominees demonstrated exceptional courage and professionalism.
These outstanding nominees include:
    a. AFRAS Gold Medal:
      (1) AST1 Derrian Duryea, Air Station Cape Cod.
      (2) AST2 Michael Diglio, Air Station Clearwater.
    b. Geoff Pagels SAR Professionals of the Year Awards.
      (1) Outstanding Contribution to SAR Readiness:
            (a) Mr. George Bannon, Sector Virginia.
            (b) Mr. Joshua Herman, Sector New Orleans.
            (c) CWO Michael Zapawa, Sector San Francisco.
      (2) Outstanding Professionalism in SAR Mission Planning and Coordination:
            (a) Rescue Sub-Center San Juan Command Center.
            (b) Sector San Francisco Command Center.
4. The 2025 AFRAS Gold Medal, Chairman's Award, and Geoff Pagels
Award recipients will be honored at a ceremony hosted by AFRAS
later this calendar year.
5. Congratulations to the award recipients on a job well done.
6. COMDT (CG-SAR) Awards POC: Mr. Mike Clarke (202) 372-2090;
email: michael.e.clarke@uscg.mil.
7. Ms. Dana S. Tulis, Director, Office of Emergency Management
(CG-5RI), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.