ALAUX 034/26 – USCG AUXILIARY EAST DISTRICT NORTHERN REGION

Subj: 2025 AUXILIARY INTEGRATION AWARD PROGRAM RESULTS

1. I am pleased to announce the recipients of the annual Commodore Viggo C. Bertelsen, Jr. and Vice Admiral John P. Currier Awards along with the District Director of Auxiliary of the Year Award. A similar announcement has recently been made in the attached ALCOAST 247/26. Bravo Zulu to all Auxiliarists that have volunteered with these units!

2. Enhanced Mission Support Award: From the Coast Guard East District – Northern Region, Training Center (TRACEN) CAPE MAY supported a historic surge in recruit training by leveraging more than 20 masterfully trained Auxiliary culinary assistants. They dedicated more than 2,500 hours to serving over 20,000 meals to the families of more than 4,240 recruits. Auxiliarists also provided crucial support by delivering more than 550 hours in TRACEN’s emergency dispatch center, providing nearly 200 hours of medical services, and contributing 190 hours to religious ministry program support. Their efforts were instrumental to enabling TRACEN to successfully graduate its highest number of recruits since 1991.

3. Enhanced Operations Award: From the Coast Guard Northeast District – Northern Region, SECTOR SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND utilized more than 820 Auxiliarists who delivered more than 54,490 hours of support to directly enhance its operations. They stood over1,355 hours of watch in the Sector Command Center, assisted the coordination of over 230 search and rescue cases that resulted in 117 lives saved or assisted and nearly $3.8 million in property saved. They also achieved 100% verification of all 1,709 private aids to navigation in their area, including those for new offshore wind farms, ensuring the safety of waterways in a rapidly evolving maritime environment.

4. Applied Innovation Award: From the Coast Guard Southwest District – Northern Region, SECTOR SAN FRANCISCO’s Auxiliarists pioneered innovative solutions to complex operational challenges. They established a fully integrated training model at STATION VALLEJO where Coast Guard military and Auxiliary personnel trained together to rapidly earn the same qualifications, a practice that institutionalized strong trust and improved unit resilience. To address recruiting challenges, the Sector developed the innovative practice of having potential recruits first serve as Auxiliarists. This “internship” model enabled recruit candidates to gain valuable operational experience and earn qualifications before entering boot camp.

5. District Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX, dpa) of the Year: From the Coast Guard Eastern District – Southern Region, CDR DAVID M. OTANI’s leadership led to outstanding Auxiliary performance across one of the Coast Guard’s most operationally active regions. He steered expansion of Auxiliary engagement in specialized, high-demand roles such as oil pollution responder, container inspector, and maritime transportation system cybersecurity. He also inspired Auxiliarists to provide critical support to major events, including the Presidential Inauguration, and facilitated the rapid assignment of 46 Auxiliarists to assist in the response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. His focus on leveraging membership experience while effectively streamlining administrative processes greatly boosted regional morale and retention among the nearly 2,000 Auxiliarists in his district.

6. Honorable Mention by Category:

Enhanced Mission Support: AIDS TO NAVIGATION FORT LAUDERDALE (Coast Guard Southeast District)
Enhanced Operations: SECTOR SAN FRANCISCO (Coast Guard Southwest District – Northern Region)
Applied Innovation: MARINE SAFETY DETACHMENT CINCINNATI (Coast Guard Heartland District – Eastern Region)
District Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX, dpa): LCDR BENJAMIN TUXHORN (Coast Guard Southeast District)

7. Award Logistics: Plaques for the Commodore Viggo C. Bertelsen, Jr. and Vice Admiral John P. Currier Awards will be sent to the cognizant DIRAUX office for coordination of appropriate presentation. The DIRAUX of the Year plaque will be sent to CGD-E-SR(dp) for appropriate presentation. Award presentation pictures are highly encouraged to be sent to the Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety at CGAUX@uscg.mil for showcasing on the award program SharePoint site.

8. Awards Panel: There were numerous award nominations packages submitted for the nominees’ distinguished Auxiliary integration achievements. Serving on the panel were:

COMO John P. Feighery, Auxiliary Vice National Commodore
CAPT Brent R. Schmadeke, COMDT (CG-BSX)
CDR Jennifer D. Osetek, COMDT (CG-7241)
LT Kelly M. Richters, COMDT (CG-BSX-11)
BMCM Jason C. Hermes, COMDT (CG-BSX-12)
BMCM Michael E. Winiarski, COMDT (DCP-WFS-5)
Mr. Stephen J. Minutolo, COMDT (CG-BSX-1) (Acting)
Ms. Christina L. Parsons, COMDT (CG-COS)

9. Internet release is authorized.