CAPTAIN EDWARD R. WILLIAMS COAST GUARD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN

R 131912Z JUL 11 ALCOAST 331/11 COMDTNOTE 1650 SUBJ: CAPTAIN EDWARD R. WILLIAMS COAST GUARD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 081901Z JUN 11 1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT LCDR CHRISTY RUTHERFORD, CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO MSU PORT ARTHUR, HAS BEEN SELECTED AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2011 CAPTAIN EDWARD R. WILLIAMS COAST GUARD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY. THE AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED ON 3 AUGUST 2011 AT THE SHERATON HOTEL AND MARINA IN SAN DIEGO, CA DURING THE NATIONAL NAVAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (NNOA) CONFERENCE. 2. AWARD CRITERIA FOR NOMINEES: COAST GUARD OFFICER OR CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER, (ACTIVE OR RESERVE) DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN MOST SUPPORTIVE OF INITIATIVES TO ACHIEVE, VALUE AND MANAGE DIVERSITY IN THE COAST GUARD. 3. DESCRIPTION OF WINNER ACCOMPLISHMENTS: LCDR RUTHERFORD, RESPONSE DEPARTMENT HEAD AT MSU PORT ARTHUR, HAS DEDICATED COUNTLESS HOURS TO ENSURING THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE COAST GUARDS MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE, OUR PEOPLE. AFTER RECOGNIZING SOME NEGATIVE TRENDS IN THE PROMOTION RATES FOR SOME UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES, SHE DEVELOPED A STRATEGY TO IMPROVE THE TREND COAST GUARD WIDE. LCDR RUTHERFORD INITIATED AND IMPLEMENTED A MENTORING NETWORK CONSISTING OF 260 COAST GUARD OFFICER MENTORS, AND ASSIGNED AT LEAST THREE MENTORS TO 150 JUNIOR OFFICERS. IN ADDITION, SHE DEDICATED AND CONTINUES TO DEVOTE A LARGE PORTION OF HER PERSONAL TIME TO ACTIVELY MENTORING 36 JUNIOR OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE WORKFORCE ON LEADERSHIP, PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT AND CAREER MANAGEMENT. AS A COAST GUARD HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCU) AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, SHE FACILITATED THE UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SEVENTH COAST GUARD DISTRICT COMMANDER. FURTHERMORE, LCDR RUTHERFORD WAS THE 2009-2010 COAST GUARD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TO NNOA PLAYING AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE COORDINATION AND EXECUTION OF THE FIRST JOINT NATIONAL NAVAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND ASSOCIATION OF NAVAL SERVICE OFFICERS (ANSO) CONFERENCE. LASTLY, HER DEDICATION TO DIVERSITY LED HER TO ASSIST THE DIVERSITY STAFF WITH LAYING THE GROUND WORK FOR ESTABLISHING DIVERSITY ACTION PLANS AND HOLDING A DIVERSITY WORKSHOP FOR THE FALL 2009 SENIOR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS THE PRECURSOR TO DEVELOPING OPTASK DIVERSITY. LCDR RUTHERFORD IS A DEDICATED, INSPIRATIONAL LEADER WHO FULLY EMBRACES DIVERSITY. 4. WE APPLAUD THE EFFORTS OF ALL OF OUR NOMINEES AND THEIR COMMANDS FOR THEIR SUBMISSIONS. ALL OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE NOMINEES ARE NOTEWORTHY, HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND THEIR ACTIONS DEMONSTRATE A PASSION FOR DIVERSITY. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SELECT ONE RECIPIENT FROM THE GROUP OF OUTSTANDING CANDIDATES. IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, THE OTHER NOMINEES WERE: A. LT TAYLOR CARLISLE, AIR STATION SAN FRANCISCO B. LT JOHN GARLAND, SECTOR HONOLULU C. LCDR JULIE KUCK, AIR STATION CLEARWATER D. LCDR HECTOR MALDONADO, CGC GALLATIN E. CDR FRANCES MESSALLE, AIR STATION ELIZABETH CITY 5. THE POC IS CDR WILLIAM MAKELL, EMAIL WILLIAM.J.MAKELL(AT)USCG.MIL, PHONE 202-475-5246. 6. MR. CURTIS B. ODOM, DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, SENDS. 7. INTERENT RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.