Dear Commander Matthew K. Matsuoka,
It is my distinct pleasure to congratulate you as the 2022 recipient of the Captain William J. Kossler Coast Guard Aeronautical Engineering Officer of the Year Award. The Coast Guard Aviation Association presents this prestigious award annually to recognize an aeronautical engineering officer who has distinguished him or herself in the field of aviation maintenance and aeronautical engineering.
You distinguished yourself through unmatched professional competence, outstanding performance, and servant leadership. Your management of simultaneous airframe upgrades from the HC-l 44A to the HC-144B, and the MH-65D to the MH-65E highlighted the nimble, responsive and resilient characteristics of Coast Guard aviation maintenance that sets us apart from any other organization in the world. Your ability to orchestrate complex logistics to repair or recover seven aircraft grounded in remote international locations in a timely manner, while simultaneously meeting the demands of one of the busiest Districts in the Coast Guard, underscored the Coast Guard’s tremendous global reach. Most importantly, your focus on the professional development of others led to unparalleled career successes for your personnel, including two Officer Candidate accessions, four Aeronautical Engineer student selections, two graduate school student selections, two Master Chief Petty Officer advancements, and a prestigious Douglas Munro Award selectee. I applaud you for your commitment to recruiting, retaining, and growing our diverse workforce.
Your consummate professionalism, exceptional leadership, superior mentorship, and dedication to the Coast Guard’s core values make you a role model for the aeronautical engineering and aviation maintenance community, and you have set the standard for excellence in mission support. Your devotion to duty is most heartily commended and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard. Bravo Zulu!
Sincerely
C. J. List
Rear Admiral U.S. Coast Guard
“Chief Engineer”