ALCOAST 070/26 - MAR 2026 2025 COAST GUARD ENLISTED PERSONS OF THE YEAR (EPOY) SELECTION

R 111714Z MAR 26   MID320018561859U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 070/26
SSIC 1650
SUBJ: 2025 COAST GUARD ENLISTED PERSONS OF THE YEAR (EPOY)
SELECTION
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 091557Z DEC 25/ALCOAST 489/25
B. Coast Guard Enlisted Person of the Year (EPOY) Program,
COMDTINST 1650.36D
C. Meritorious Advancement Program, COMDTINST 1430.2
1. This ALCOAST announces the selection of ME1 Stephen
Manrow, Maritime Security Response Team-East as the 2025
Enlisted Person of the Year - Active Duty, and BM2 Aaran
Flanagan, Station San Diego as the 2025 Enlisted Person of
the Year - Reserve Component.
    a. Petty Officer Manrow consistently performed above his
paygrade, serving as the acting Troop Chief for six complex
deployments. His leadership was instrumental in unifying
diverse government agency operators into a cohesive force
that successfully executed national-level tasking for
Operations SOUTHERN GUARD and SOUTHERN SPEAR, security for
the 2025 United Nations General Assembly, and operations in
the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. His devoted
leadership proved instrumental in maintaining unit readiness
amidst significant personnel hardship. Despite deploying for
over 200 days, he ensured global force readiness by
qualifying over ten assaulters, four Fast Rope Masters, four
Hook and Climb Masters, and three Chemical, Biological,
Nuclear, and Explosives specialists. Demonstrating
exceptional foresight, he proactively sought advanced
training in drone exploitation and advised Customs and Border
Protection on countering drone incursions along the U.S.
border. As a recognized subject matter expert, he pioneered
sensitive site exploitation procedures and trained 24 U.S.
Marine Corps operators, imparting a critical new capability
to a key joint partner.
    b. Petty Officer Flanagan demonstrated a devotion that far
exceeds standards, while performing 31 unpaid drills to earn
qualifications and augment Station San Diego, even while on
active-duty orders for Operation BORDER TRIDENT. A true
community leader, he volunteered over 300 hours teaching
emergency preparedness for the San Diego Community Emergency
Response Team and leadership skills to 14 local youth.
Leading by example, he completed three ultra-marathons and
inspired three members to compete alongside him in the
18.5-mile Norwegian Foot March. Leveraging a decade of
experience commanding research vessels for NASA and NOAA, he
took direct ownership of a critical capability gap when the
station’s primary reserve asset was replaced. He quickly
became the sole qualified reserve coxswain, single-handedly
enabling 430 hours of underway training and preventing a
lapse in mission readiness. A recognized subject matter
expert, he was instrumental in qualifying three coxswains
and 12 boat crew members, trained over 80 personnel as a
Firearms Marksmanship Coach, and made significant progress
towards his own advanced Pursuit Coxswain qualification.
2. Petty Officers Manrow and Flanagan are exceptional Coast
Guardsmen who embody our Core Values both on and off duty.
3. Both EPOY winners will be Meritoriously Advanced to the
next higher pay grade and awarded the Coast Guard
Commendation Medal during the Polaris event in Washington,
D.C., in April 2026.
4. The following individuals are also worthy of special
recognition, having earned nominations from their commands
and the respect of their fellow Coast Guard members as 2025
Enlisted Persons of the Year at the District level:
    a. MK1 Chevy Sheffield, CGC Campbell
    b. ME1 Gregory Casserta, Sector New York
    c. ME2 Christopher Biggs, Sector Maryland - NCR
    d. ME2 Michael Hand, TACLET South
    e. AMT1 Haylee Davalos, AIRSTA Miami
    f. MST1 Devin McMahan, MSU Lake Charles
    g. HS2 Jacob Kalb, Air Station Detroit
    h. HS1 Rodica Voinovan, Sector Lake Michigan
    i. MK2 Daniel Telfer, CGC Tern
    j. BM1 Dorian Casey, Natl Motor Lifeboat School
    k. MST2 Christian Nunez, Sector Puget Sound
    l. HS1 Jessica Steel, Base Kodiak
    m. MK2 Jeremiah Spittler, STA Valdez
    n. BM2 Chynna Penird, MSST Honolulu
    o. IT3 Mariana Burch, ESD Guam
5. Our sincere thanks and appreciation to all commands who
nominated their highest-performing enlisted personnel.
6. POC: Enlisted Person of the Year Program is
SCPO Timothy Mason, COMDT (CG-00B) at
Timothy.W.Mason@uscg.mil.
7. Released by Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, Commandant, and
MCPOCG Phillip N. Waldron, Master Chief Petty Officer of the
Coast Guard.
8. Internet release is authorized.