The safety department was selected by the commandant’s staff for outstanding performance from among the impressive nominations of other aviation safety departments and individuals.

The unit safety department was selected by the commandant’s staff for outstanding performance not only within air station ground and air operations but extending beyond to local surface unit operations, service-wide MH65 operations and the broader naval aviation community. LCDR Gelfand and LT Kearney were proactive, innovative and persistent in their consistent efforts to share and instill principles of safety and risk management resulting in a robust air, ground and occupational safety program considered by the command to have substantially increased the safety awareness of sector personnel in operations as well as non-operational activities both on and off duty. They authored several well received articles published in Coast Guard and naval aviation periodicals and made valuable contributions to Coast Guard national flight safety conferences and training procedures. They created a unit safety publication and promoted local awards within the sector for individuals noting, correcting and reporting hazards. They partnered with regional FAA and weather service personnel to enhance interagency communications and understandings aimed at reducing hazards. Several pages list the specific accomplishments of LCDR Gelfand and LT Kearney. Their commanding officer expressed that their impressive leadership and contributions have been felt well beyond Air Station North Bend and have had positive influences on the MH-65 fleet, CG Aviation as a whole and our partners in both the Department of Defense and allied nations. Their performance is in keeping with the legacy of Captain Shrode and a credit to Coast Guard Aviation and the profession of aviation safety.