ALCOAST 033/26 - FEB 2026 SOLICITATION FOR THE 2025 PUBLIC AFFAIRS AWARDS

R 021139Z FEB 26   MID320018511354U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 033/26
SSIC 5700
SUBJ: SOLICITATION FOR THE 2025 PUBLIC AFFAIRS AWARDS
A. External Affairs Manual, COMDTINST 5700.13A
B. External Affairs Awards, COMDTINST 1650.37
1. This ALCOAST solicits submissions for the 2025 Chief Journalist
(JOC) Alex Haley and CDR Jim Simpson Public Affairs Awards.
These awards are designed to encourage and formally recognize
Coast Guard-wide participation in conducting our important public
affairs mission. Per REF (A), the Coast Guard's success depends in
great measure upon the American public understanding and supporting
our missions. Consequently, our service needs every member to
continue to tell the Coast Guard story.
2. Per REF (B), the JOC Alex Haley Award, named for the renowned
author and Coast Guard journalist, recognizes achievements of
individual authors, photographers, and writers whose published works
have helped raise service visibility.
3. Per REF (B), the CDR Jim Simpson Award is named in honor of the
first press assistant to the Commandant and recognizes excellence in
an all-encompassing unit Public Affairs program. All Coast Guard
units are eligible and encouraged to participate. Units with
assigned Public Affairs staffs will be evaluated separately. Those
units, which a Public Affairs Detachment is co-located, will be
considered as units without assigned Public Affairs staffs, as long
as unit personnel are primarily responsible for the public affairs
achievements cited in the award submission.
4. Award submissions are due NLT 13 February 2026 for Haley awards
and 13 March 2026 for Simpson awards. Award recipients will be
announced via ALCOAST. Awards program guidance, including
eligibility, specifications, submission criteria, categories, and
judging can be viewed at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/cg092/cg0922/cg09225/SitePages/
Awards.aspx

5. POC: Questions and submissions should be directed to
PublicAffairsPrograms@uscg.mil.
6. Jennifer M. Plozai, Director of Governmental & Public Affairs
(CG-092), sends.
7. Internet release is authorized.