ALCOAST 480/25 - DEC 2025 2025 CAPTAIN NIELS P. THOMSEN INNOVATION AWARDS SOLICITATION

R 011858Z DEC 25 MID120012255184U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 480/25
SSIC 1650
SUBJ: 2025 CAPTAIN NIELS P. THOMSEN INNOVATION AWARDS SOLICITATION
A. Coast Guard Publication 1, Doctrine for the U.S. Coast Guard
1. This ALCOAST solicits nominations for the 2025 Captain Niels P.
Thomsen Innovation Awards.
2. U.S. Coast Guard Doctrine relies on every member of our Service
embracing a Culture of Innovation. Each year, the Coast Guard
celebrates the creativity of our members by recognizing the most
impactful innovations from across the Service through the
Captain Niels P. Thomsen Innovation Awards.
3. The 2025 Innovation Awards will be presented to deserving
individuals and/or teams in the following six categories:
     a. Science or Technology:
Science or Technology nominations enable effective, efficient, and
secure operations across all Coast Guard missions by applying
scientific, engineering, analytic, and innovative approaches to
deliver timely solutions and support.
     b. Operations or Readiness:
Operations or Readiness nominations demonstrate capability to
efficiently deploy, operate, and maintain the systems and procedures
to reduce operational risks while supporting the Coast Guard to
expand its current capabilities and Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)
across all missions.
     c. Administration, Training, or Support:
Administration, Training, or Support nominations enhance planning,
organizing, staffing, training, directing, supporting, or coordinating
to improve the current and future readiness of our service members.
     d. Culture Change:
Culture Change nominations allow the Coast Guard to evolve as an
organization by reinforcing practices that help achieve our mission
goals while raising Coast Guard esprit de corps. Examples will
uphold Coast Guard Core Values, emphasize leadership and foster a
positive command environment to sustain mission excellence.
     e. Coast Guard Auxiliary Achievement:
Auxiliary Achievement nominations highlight innovative solutions
involving auxiliarists to aid Coast Guard operations. Some examples
may be improving recreational boating safety or enhancing crew
training for the auxiliarists.
     f. The CDR Joel Magnussen Innovation Award for Management:
CDR Joel Magnussen Innovation Award for Management is dedicated in
memory of CDR Joel Magnussen, the recipient of the 2003 Innovation
Awards in the category of Administration, Support, and Training, for
his initiative to establish D7 University. A new category was
established for Innovation in Management in honor of his passing in
October 2003, and the nominations call for exemplary efforts that
have implemented innovative solutions to challenges faced by the
USCG.
4. A new CG_Ideas@Work challenge to collect 2025 Innovation Award
nominations can be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://cg-ideasatwork.ideascalegov.com/c/cgideasatwork/campaigns/
1440/about

You can also access CG_Ideas@Work through the Coast Guard Innovation
link on the Pixel Dashboard.
5. Nominations shall describe the innovative solution and capture
how the solution positively impacted the Service. Nominations that
do not fit into one of the above categories are also encouraged to
apply - the innovation program will determine which category is the
best fit. Final award winners will be selected by a group of senior
leaders and subject matter experts.
6. All Coast Guard active duty, reserve, civilian, and auxiliary
personnel are eligible to participate.
7. Final day to submit nominations for the 2025 Innovation Awards
is 31 January 2026. Submission instructions can be found within the
challenge description on CG_Ideas@Work.
8. For information on last year's winners and to learn more about
the Coast Guard Innovation Program, visit:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/USCG-CG-WI

9. Please direct any questions to CG Innovation Program office at:
Innovation@uscg.mil.
10. RDML Amy Grable, Assistant Commandant for Futures Development
and Integration (CG-FDI), sends.
11. Internet release is authorized.