ALCOAST 116/26 - MAY 2026 WINNER ANOUNCEMENT AND RENAMING - 2025 USCG HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (HRM) ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

R 011825Z MAY 26   MID120041225238U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 116/26
SSIC 1650
SUBJ: WINNER ANOUNCEMENT AND RENAMING - 2025 USCG HUMAN RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT (HRM) ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 291805Z DEC 25/ALCOAST 512/25
1. Pursuant to REF (A), I am pleased to announce the recipients of
the 2025 USCG Human Resource Management (HRM) Achievement Awards and
the renaming of the HRM award. These awards provide recognition for
noteworthy human resource management actions by Coast Guard
personnel. More specifically, the awards reflect member or team
emphasis on superior performance in the care and support of our
total workforce, through extraordinary customer service, creative
initiatives, and solution oriented skills in human resource
management and processes. Numerous nominations were submitted
from across the Coast Guard and all exemplified the highest
standards of professionalism, commitment, and true dedication
to our people.
2. There are five individual award categories and two team
categories for the USCG HRM Achievement Awards:
    a. Active Duty Officers (Commissioned Officer/Chief Warrant
Officer),
    b. Civilian Employees (General Schedule/Federal Wage Schedule),
    c. Non-appropriated fund (NAF) employees,
    d. Enlisted Personnel,
    e. Reserve Personnel (Officer/Enlisted),
    f. Teams consisting of 4 to 20 personnel, Headquarters and Pay
personnel Center (PPC), and
    g. Teams consisting of 4 to 20 personnel, from units not
included in 2.f.
3. The winner of the officer category is CWO Erin O'Brien,
Base LA/LB. CWO O'Brien established nearly a dozen high-impact
wellness programs, providing 250 members opportunities to improve
physical, emotional and mental well-being during a year of
unprecedented change. Facing an extended government shutdown and
supporting a 300% increase in visiting cutters, CWO O'Brien's
steadfast commitment to her shipmates was life saving. Her creative
initiatives such as suicide awareness events, weekly group
workouts, sleep campaigns and grocery deliveries, all helped to
reduce stress, improve readiness, build camaraderie, and grow a
stronger and more resilient community during a time when members
were most at risk. CWO O'Brien's efforts significantly enhanced the
total workforce experience and effectiveness of LA/LB personnel.
4. The runner-up of the officer category is LT Brandon Critchfield,
ATC Mobile.
5. The winner of the civilian category is Mr. Wess McElroy, PPC.
Mr. McElroy's innovation and dedication resulted in numerous
advancements in the Human Resources realm. As a transformative
leader, he played a pivotal role in standing up the new
"Innovation, Procedures and Governance Branch" (IPG) at the Pay and
Personnel Center (PPC). Under his leadership, the IPG branch
completed emergency contacts certification to the Direct Access
self-service, eliminating 19,000 labor hours, while saving the
Coast Guard over $2.7 million annually. Most notably, Mr. McElroy
coordinated and executed the first Yeoman Senior Site Visit in over
a decade, connecting Yeoman throughout the Coast Guard.
Mr. McElroy's efforts elevated the effectiveness, professionalism
and morale of Yeoman Coast Guard-wide.
6. The runner-up of the civilian category is Mr. Adam Jaime,
TRACEN Petaluma.
7.The winner of the NAF category is Ms. Paloma Evans, Community
Services Command. Ms. Evans assumed responsibility for directing and
administering complex benefits programs, most notably she
successfully led the annual Open Enrollment Process, ensuring
accurate enrollments and timely communication for employees. Prior
to open enrollment, Ms. Evans secured a 7% savings to the Community
Services and Command (CSC) and over $100,000 savings to CSC, CGX,
and MWR employees. She demonstrated strong analytical and
organizational skills in overseeing benefit enrollments, eligibility
determinations, billing audits and payroll coordination. Going
beyond her duties, Ms. Evans, served as a trusted resource,
providing clear guidance on benefit options, plan changes and
regulatory requirements. Ms. Evans' customer-focused approach during
a period of heightened employee concern, enhanced employee
confidence in the Human Resource function and reinforced trust in
the organization's benefits administration.
8. The runner-up of the NAF category is Ms. Jaleesa Carroll,
Community Services Command.
9. The winner of the enlisted category is YNC Tiffany Patrick,
Sector New Orleans. As the Administrative Branch Chief, YNC Patrick
serviced over 700 Coast Guard personnel across 18 units.
YNC Patrick's unwavering commitment to service before self is
evident, as she secured over $12,000 in back pay and ensured
financial stability for Coast Guard members, while resolving complex
pay and entitlement issues. Her innovative development of
accountability and personnel rosters enabled uninterrupted support
during system outages and full accountability of Coast Guard
members, including during New Years Day terrorist attack in
New Orleans. YNC Patrick produced step-by-step guidance for new
government travel card (GTCC) applications, streamlined workflows,
and improved compliance. Throughout strategic thinking, effective
communication and exceptional customer service, YNC Patrick advanced
Coast Guard readiness and welfare, embodying the highest ideals of
Human Resource management.
10. The runner-up for the enlisted category is YN1 Jennifer McFall,
White House Military office.
11. The winner of the reserve category is LT Todd Pagel, PPC.
LT Pagel is cited for outstanding leadership as head of the
Coast Guard's Career Retention Screening Panel (CRSP) Tiger Team.
He created a specialized team of 10 Pay and Personnel Center Reserve
members to adjudicate 244 legal cases that the Federal Claims Court
awarded for full reinstatement of retired and active duty pay.
LT Pagel built a coalition among the Coast Guard, Department of
Justice, Veterans Affairs and Social Security Administration to a
create consistent, repeatable process to compensate all 244 members,
estimated at $82M, while establishing new procedures for future back
pay situations. As a result of LT Pagel's efforts, two new pay
elements were introduced solely for CRSP payments, with his
coordination with Financial and Accounting and Reporting Branch,
LT Pagel ensured processes properly identified these payments.
12. The runner-up for the reserve category is LT Kara Korengel,
Sector Puget Sound.
13. The winner of the team Headquarters and PPC category is the
PSC-PSD-Med Medical Administration (PSC-Med).The PSC-Med team led
the Coast Guard wide operational implementation and completion of
the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES). The team trained
over 150 personnel, processed 185 IDES cases, reduced average case
timelines from 295 to 270 days. PSD-Med, finalized and
operationalized standardized governance, execution on training
aligned with Army, Navy, Airforce and Marine Corps disability
evaluation systems. The PSC-Med team reduced legal and adjudicate
risk and strengthened due process by standardizing enterprise case
processing, strengthening documentation quality and enforcing
consistent application of statuary and regulatory standards.
14. The runner-up of the team Headquarters and PPC category is
PSC-PSD Admin Boards Branch.
15. The winner of the Team category is PACAREA Personnel Division
(PAC-1). In direct support of the Coast Guard Force Design 2028,
PAC-1 provided enterprise-level human resource management and
administrative support to Presidential Directives and Southern
Border Operations, ensuring uninterrupted mission execution.
PAC-1 rapidly established a dedicated processing cell that sourced
and mobilized over 500 members, strengthening border security and
operational response. PAC-1 also implemented the trailblazing
Reserve Readiness Program, delivering Service-wide requirements and
centralized database to facilitate mobilization accountability.
PAC-1 championed Operational Stress Control Pilot, proactively
addressing critical mental health readiness across the workforce.
PAC-1's team human resource management was remarkable in the
achievements of holding up the Coast Guards unwavering commitment.
16. The runner-up of the Team category is SFLC Workforce Services
Division.
17. In honor of a career that profoundly shaped the Coast Guard's
Human Resource enterprise, the "Human Resource Management (HRM)
Awards" is hereby renamed the "Master Chief Charles Bartocci
Excellence in Human Resources Management Awards." Master Chief
Bartocci's 45 years of combined active duty and civilian service set
an unmatched gold standard for the Human Resource community.
From his earliest assignments to his tenure as Command Master Chief
then as a civilian instructor at PPC, he was the embodiment of the
award's highest criteria, leaving a lasting, positive impact on
generations of officers, enlisted members, and civilian employees.
Master Chief Bartocci's legacy is one of selfless dedication,
unparalleled technical expertise in pay and personnel systems,
and an unwavering commitment to his simple, yet profound philosophy:
"take care of the crew." He was a legend amongst the Yeoman rating
who voluntarily created "The Reservist" workshop to close a critical
knowledge gap, personally mentored countless Yeoman to advancements,
and was sought by leaders at every level for his wisdom. This
renaming codifies the legacy of a leader who was not only an expert
in his field but a true shipmate, ensuring that his standard of
excellence, service, and mentorship will inspire all future
recipients of this prestigious award.
18. The HRM Award Panel consisted of:
    a. CAPT Catherine Carabine, AIRSTA Elizabeth City
    b. Dr. Michael Kaloydis, CSC
    c. LCDR Jiah Barnett, PACAREA
    d. LCDR Erica Linnemann, COMDT-PSC
    e. LT Brenda Rosado, BASE NCR
19. The point of contact for the HRM Awards is LTJG I. S. Hinz,
Iman.S.Hinz@uscg.mil.
20. Bravo Zulu to these HRM Award winners and all nominees who care,
serve, and support the men and women of the world's best
Coast Guard!
21. CAPT Christopher J. Hulser, Assistant Commandant for Workforce
Management (CG-WM), sends.
22. Internet release is authorized.