Coast Guard Aviation Association

Coast Guard Aviation Association Awards

Each year the Coast Guard Aviation Association honors active duty aviation personnel by recognizing outstanding achievement. Recipients of these awards are chosen by the United States Coast Guard. Awards include the The Victor Roulund Rescue Swimmer Meritorious Achievement Award, the Captain Gus Shrode Flight Safety Award, the Chief Oliver Berry Aviation Maintenance Award, the Commander Elmer Stone Fixed Wing Rescue Award, and the Captain Frank Erickson Rotary Wing Rescue Award. See below for award descriptions as well as past and present recipients.
2011 Shrode Award

Captain Marion “Gus” Shrode Flight Safety Award

Lt Jeremy Davis USCG Lt Thomas Huntley USCG Lt Nicholas Hazlett USCG

Nomination Summary

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.

During the period of 1 June 2010 to 31 May 2011, the Elizabeth city safety department was instrumental in developing a proactive safety culture at the unit. They modified and expanded the unit’s operational risk management (ORM) program through the development and implementation of a more robust ORM process guide. The final product not only captured risk data for operational and training flights, but additionally mirrored the district level and sector level gar model allowing flight crews to quickly communicate risk-based decisions to other Coast Guard units, thus improving communication between multiple response platforms.

PAST RECIPIENTS

The Coast Guard Aviation Association annually presents the Captain Marion “Gus” Shrode Aviation Safety Award to recognize superior performance and outstanding contributions to Coast Guard aviation safety. Captain Shrode was a pioneer in the development of Coast Guard aviation standardization programs, including publication of the Coast Guard’s first aircraft standardization manual. Captain Shrode was also instrumental in creating the Coast Guard’s Aviation Training Center in 1966, served as the Aviation Safety Chief, and completed seven years of continuous aviation command with distinction.

2010 AS Los Angeles Safety Department: LT Patrick Dill, LT Barry Miles, LT Joel Cooper (RAN)
2009 LT Robert Fitzgerald, CGAS San Francisco
2008 AS Clearwater Safety Department: LT Rob Donnell, LT Josh Fitzgerald, LTJG James Bates and MST1 Jon Gebo
2007 AS Atlantic City Safety Department: LT Brian Potter and LT Frank Fusco
2006 Sector Corpus Christi Safety Department: CDR John Danaher, LT Juan Posada and Ms Jammie Fisher
2005 LT Sean O’Brien, CGAS Houston
2004 AS Kodiak Safety Department: LCDR Brian Washburn, LT Jeremy Smith, LT Timothy Eason and Mr. Scott Tobias
2003 LT Richard Bates, HITRON Jacksonville
2002 LT Charles Carrulo, AS Atlantic City
2001 LT John Rivers, CGAS Miami
2000 CWO Chirstopher Toupin, AR&SC
1999 LT Randy Emery, CGAS Atlantic City
1998 LT David Scott, CGAS Borenque

2011 Erickson Award

Captain Frank Erickson Rotary Wing Rescue Award

CREW OF HH-60 CGNR 6013 AIR STATION KODIAK, AK. LCDR James Harkins, LT Christopher Stoeckler AET2 David Ball, AST2 Michael Gerent

Nomination Summary

The Captain Frank A. Erickson award goes to the Air Station Kodiak crew of CGNR 6013 in recognition of their heroic efforts on 10 August 2010. The actions of LT Christopher Stoeckler, LCDR James Harkins, AET2 David Ball, and AST2 Michael Gerent resulted in two lives saved and two assisted from a float plane that had crashed in a remote area. During the two-hour night-time transit to scene, the crew encountered IMC and poor visibility while navigating the 9,000foot peaks of the Aleutian Range. Once clear of the treacherous terrain, the crew encountered icing conditions during the descent into the narrow confines of Bristol Bay. CGNR 6013 hover-taxied just above the tree tops, through low lying fog to arrive at the survivor’s location, 800 feet up the side of a mountain. Steep terrain and high winds at the crash site forced hoisting to be accomplished from the left seat copilot position. The severe winds also required the flight mechanic to provide conning commands by looking underneath the belly of the aircraft, and hampered the rescue swimmers ability to traverse the ground. The crew demonstrated exceptional airmanship responding to these challenges while fighting fatigue and vertigo-inducing visual illusions caused by the 45-degree horizon. They worked for over two hours to recover the survivors. The crew’s superlative aeronautical abilities, bravery, and teamwork were evident throughout this mission.

PAST RECIPIENTS

The Frank Erickson Award recognizes Rotary-Wing aircrews who have demonstrated exceptional performance while engaged in search and rescue operations.

2010 HH-65C crew, AS Atlantic City
LCDR Sean O’Brien, LT Neal Corbin, AMT2 Ian Berg, AST2 David Downham

2009 HH-60J crew, AS Clearwater
LCDR Mark Turner, LTjg Daniel Cathell, AMT2 Jason Menezes, AST3 Jon Geskus

2008 HH-65 crew, AS Kodiak
LT Timothy Schmitz, LT Greg Gederner, AMT2 Alfred Musgrave, AST2 Abram Heller

2007 HH-65 crew, AS Kodiak
LCDR Joseph Carroll, LT Devin Townsend, AST1 Willard Milam, AET2 John Maghupoy

2006 HH-60 crew, AS Sitka
LCDR William Simmons, LCDR Walter Horne, AMT3 Karl Schickle, AST3 Jon Houlberg

2005 HH-65 crew, AS Kodiak
LT Timothy Eason, LT Robert Kornexl, AMT3 Gibbons

2004 HH-60 crew, AS Kodiak
LCDR Joseph Uxmann, LT Jeremy Smith, AMT2 Joseph Triechel, AST2 Joshua Mitcheltree, HS2 Marc Capra

2003 HH-65 crew, AS Humboldt Bay
LVCDR Even Grant, LT Andrea Sacchetti, AMT2 Raymond Morris

2002 HH-65 crew, AS North Bend
CDR Douglas Kaup, LT Steven Detton, AVT3 Benjamin Berman, AST3 Erick Biehn

2001 HH-65 crew, AS Savannah
LT Lance Belben, LT Sean Morrisey, AMT3 Curtis Winn, AST2 Jason Mathers

2000 HH-60 crew, AS Sitka
LCDR Robert Yerex, LT james O’Keefe, AMT1 Christian Bloanco, AST3 Noel Hutton

2011 Stone Award

Commander Elmer Stone Fixed Wing Rescue Award

CREW OF HC-144 CGNR 2306 – CGAS MIAMI, FL LT Stacia Parrott , LTJG Daniel Feirman AET1 Thomas Morrell, AMT2 Casey Green AMT2 Jacob Eide, AET3 Jeremy Church

Nomination Summary

The commander Elmer F. Stone award goes to the Air Station Miami crew of CGNRr 2306 in recognition of their efforts on 22 may 2011.the skill and dedication of LT Stacia Parrott, LTJG Daniel Feirman,AET1 Thomas Morrell, AMT2 Casey Green, AMT2 Jacob Eide, and AET3Jeremy Church resulted in saving the of three lives. At 0400 the crew of CGMR 2306 launched to search for the source of a personal locator beacon, 44 nautical miles east of Lake Worth inlet, at the western edge of the Bahamas. Once on-scene, the crew determined their assigned search pattern was not matching with the last known location of the signal. While looking in the vicinity of what they predicted should be the search area they discovered a light that did not match navigation aids in the area. They chose to depart the search to investigate the light. Discovering a debris field, they made several passes over the immediate area. On the last pass, several persons in the water were located with the use of the infrared camera. The mission sensor operators were able to determine the exact number of survivors to be three. Acting quickly, the crew dropped a MK-58 flare at the position. The marker provided a visual reference for a surface asset to locate and safely recover all three PIW. Through their effective use of mission planning, crew resource management, and proactive leadership, the crew succeeded in saving three lives.

PAST RECIPIENTS

The Elmer Stone Award recognizes Fixed-Wing aircrews who have demonstrated exceptional performance while engaged in search and rescue operations

2010 HC-130 CREW, AS BARBERS POINT LT DAVID SHOOK, LTJG PHILLIP ORTEGA, AET1 ROBERT BLUME, AET2 MICHAEL HOUSE, AMT3 CASE MCCRODEN, AMT3 PAUL JOHNSON

2009 HC-130 CREW, AS SACRAMENTO LCDR CHE BARNES, LT RANDALL BLACK, AMT1 ANDREW KASTEN, AMT1 RANDALL PURDY, AMT1 JASON FERGUSON, AET2 NATHAN LACROIX, AET2 BRENNAN BRIDGEFORD, AMT3 JOSEPH MACKEY

2008 HC-130 CREW, AS KODIAK LT STEVE MCKECHNIE, CDR PAUL TITCOMBE, AMT1 SHAWN CALLIS, AET1 KEVIN DURYEA, AET3 JASON MADDUX, AMT3 COREYT STROBEL, AMT3 COLLIN SPENCER

2007 HC-130 crew, AS Elizabeth City LT Paul Beavis, LT Edward Ahlstrand, AMT1 Trey Jones, AET3 Jesse Bennett, AMT2 Stacey Sorenson, AET3 Ryan Cantu, AMT3 Casey Green

2006 HU-24 CREW, ATC MOBILE LT ANTHONY CELLA, LT STEVEN TALICK, AMT2 RALPH TURNER, AMT3 BOBBY ACREE, AET2 ANDREW GOODISON

2005 HC-130 CREW, AS KODIAK LCDR TODD SCHMIDT, LT STEVEN MCKECHNIE, AMT1 KEVIN KEARNS, AET1MARTIN, AMT2 NORIEGA, AMT2 THOMAS AUITO, AET2 SCOTT MARET

2004 HC-130 CREW, AS KODIAK LCDR Timothy Tobiasz (Aircraft Commander), LCDR Kenneth Harman (Flight Surgeon), LT Eric Storch (Copilot), AMT1 Curtis Jones (Dropmaster), AMT2 Bryan Stewart (Flight Engineer), AET2 Kevin Martin (Navigator), AET2 Daniel Buress, (Radio Operator), AMT3 Anthony Zalocki (Loadmaster) and HS2 Christopher Burnside (Aviation Mission Specialist—Corpsman)

2003 HC-130 CREW, AS ELIZABETH CITY LCDR MICHAEL CALLAHAN, LT ALAN HANSEN, AMTC HOWARD REED, AVT2 PHILIP BENTON, AVT3 BEAU STOUGH, AVT2 BENNET DURHAM, AMT3 CHRISTOPHER TEALL, AMT1 THOMAS BAUGH, AMT3 WENDY MUSSER

2002 HU-25 CREW, AS CAPE COD LT CURTIS SUMROK, LTJG ROB BARTHELMES, AMT2 THOMAS ARNETTE, AVT2 WILLIAM SHRADE

2001 HC-130 CREW, AS CLEARWATER LCDR KIRK BARTNIK, LCDR GEOFF BORREE, LT RONALD DEWITT, LT JONATHAN SPANER, AMT1 STEPHEN

2000 HC-130 CREW, AS ELIZABETH CITY LCDR BILL THOMPSON, LCDR JOHN KEETON, AMT1 JOHN NICHOLSON, AMT1 TIM WALLER, AT1 MIKE MCCLEARY, AMT2 ED HOLLAND, AT2 PAT MUDGE

2011 Berry Award

Chief Aviation Machinist Mate Oliver Berry Aviation Maintenance Award

AMT1 Jacob Linder of Air Station Humboldt Bay, California

Nomination Summary

Demonstrating exceptional leadership, superb technical expertise and professionalism, AMT1 Linder played a key role in Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay’s aviation engineering department as quality assurance supervisor, watch captain, corrosion prevention advocate, maintenance resource management facilitator, enlisted flight examining board chairperson and critical incident stress management peer. His relentless work ethic, exemplary technical expertise, and significant efforts mentoring and leading the workforce proved invaluable for the sustained high level of readiness for Air Station Humboldt Bay. His valued contributions undoubtedly improved the aviation maintenance program and are highly deserving of this prestigious award.

PAST RECIPIENTS

The Coast Guard Aviation Association annually presents the Chief Aviation Machinist Mate Oliver F. Berry Aviation Maintenance Award to an aviation technician who has demonstrated exceptional performance and enhanced the overall quality of Coast Guard aviation maintenance.

2010 AMT1 Frank Fontanez, ATC Mobile
2009 AMT2 Brandon Smith, CGAS San Diego
2008 AMT2 Bryan Patrick, CGAS San Francisco
2007 AMT2 David Parker, CGAS Houston
2006 AMT1 Cletis Milan, CGAS Elizabeth City
2005 AMT1 Randy Losada, CGAS Miami
2004 AM1 Brad Barrington, CGAS San Diego
2003 CWO Pete Fonticoba, CGAS Miami