CAPTAIN EDWARD R. WILLIAMS COAST GUARD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN

R 131912Z JUL 11ALCOAST 331/11COMDTNOTE 1650SUBJ: CAPTAIN EDWARD R. WILLIAMS COAST GUARD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE INDIVERSITYA. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 081901Z JUN 111. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT LCDR CHRISTY RUTHERFORD, CURRENTLYASSIGNED TO MSU PORT ARTHUR, HAS BEEN SELECTED AS THE RECIPIENT OFTHE 2011 CAPTAIN EDWARD R. WILLIAMS COAST GUARD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCEIN DIVERSITY. THE AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED ON 3 AUGUST 2011 AT THESHERATON HOTEL AND MARINA IN SAN DIEGO, CA DURING THE NATIONAL NAVALOFFICERS ASSOCIATION (NNOA) CONFERENCE.2. AWARD CRITERIA FOR NOMINEES: COAST GUARD OFFICER OR CHIEF WARRANTOFFICER, (ACTIVE OR RESERVE) DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN MOST SUPPORTIVEOF INITIATIVES TO ACHIEVE, VALUE AND MANAGE DIVERSITY IN THE COASTGUARD.3. DESCRIPTION OF WINNER ACCOMPLISHMENTS: LCDR RUTHERFORD, RESPONSEDEPARTMENT HEAD AT MSU PORT ARTHUR, HAS DEDICATED COUNTLESS HOURS TOENSURING THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE COAST GUARDS MOSTPRECIOUS RESOURCE, OUR PEOPLE. AFTER RECOGNIZING SOME NEGATIVETRENDS IN THE PROMOTION RATES FOR SOME UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES,SHE DEVELOPED A STRATEGY TO IMPROVE THE TREND COAST GUARD WIDE. LCDRRUTHERFORD INITIATED AND IMPLEMENTED A MENTORING NETWORK CONSISTINGOF 260 COAST GUARD OFFICER MENTORS, AND ASSIGNED AT LEAST THREEMENTORS TO 150 JUNIOR OFFICERS. IN ADDITION, SHE DEDICATED ANDCONTINUES TO DEVOTE A LARGE PORTION OF HER PERSONAL TIME TO ACTIVELYMENTORING 36 JUNIOR OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE WORKFORCE ONLEADERSHIP, PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT AND CAREER MANAGEMENT. AS ACOAST GUARD HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCU)AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, SHE FACILITATED THEUNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SEVENTH COAST GUARD DISTRICTCOMMANDER. FURTHERMORE, LCDR RUTHERFORD WAS THE 2009-2010 COASTGUARD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TO NNOA PLAYING AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THECOORDINATION AND EXECUTION OF THE FIRST JOINT NATIONAL NAVAL OFFICERSASSOCIATION AND ASSOCIATION OF NAVAL SERVICE OFFICERS (ANSO)CONFERENCE. LASTLY, HER DEDICATION TO DIVERSITY LED HER TO ASSISTTHE DIVERSITY STAFF WITH LAYING THE GROUND WORK FOR ESTABLISHINGDIVERSITY ACTION PLANS AND HOLDING A DIVERSITY WORKSHOP FOR THE FALL2009 SENIOR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS THE PRECURSORTO 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 COMMANDSFOR THEIR SUBMISSIONS. ALL OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE NOMINEES ARENOTEWORTHY, HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND THEIR ACTIONS DEMONSTRATE A PASSIONFOR DIVERSITY. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SELECT ONE RECIPIENTFROM THE GROUP OF OUTSTANDING CANDIDATES. IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, THEOTHER 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 CITY5. THE POC IS CDR WILLIAM MAKELL, EMAILWILLIAM.J.MAKELL(AT)USCG.MIL, PHONE 202-475-5246.6. MR. CURTIS B. ODOM, DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, SENDS.7. INTERENT RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.