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.
2016 Shrode Award

Captain Marion “Gus” Shrode Flight Safety Award

LCDR James Cooley, CGAS Astoria

Nomination Summary

During the period 01 June 2015 to 31 May 2016, LCDR Cooley exhibited extraordinary performance as the Flight Safety Officer (FSO) at Sector Columbia River. As a leading member of the FSO community, LCDR Cooley volunteered to co-write the new FSO Professional Qualification Standard (PQS), a 300-page document that integrates numerous safety policies with FSO best practices. Given the scope of this project, LCDR Cooley dedicated countless off-duty hours working on this year-long project. The result of his efforts is a first-ever FSO PQS that provides the necessary tasks, learning objectives and techniques to ensure FSO incumbents are effective in their role as a unit safety officer.

LCDR Cooley assisted in the development and delivery of the latest revision of the COMDT (CG-1131) Crew Resource Management (CRM) instructor training module during the 2016 FSO Standardization Course. As a key facilitator, he led discussions with breakout groups to ensure FSOs (unit trainers) understood the material and garnered effective presentation skills.

LCDR Cooley consistently displayed superior communication skills through quality mishap reporting and safety analyses that triggered positive fleet-wide procedural changes, prevented the cancellation of a critical rotary-wing training venue, and generated risk management dialogues across the Service. Capitalizing on his influential roles as an FSO and unit Flight Examiner, he helped craft and test new air station training initiatives aimed at improving aircrew inland Search and Rescue skills. He created a unique Aviation Safety Newsletter podcast that entertains listeners while equipping them with actionable tips to operate in a more safe and effective manner.

He also published an insightful article with an industry-leading law enforcement organization offering aviation professionals practical means to shape their aviation safety culture.

As the Sector Columbia River FSO, LCDR Cooley embodies the Commandant’s guiding principles of Duty to People and Commitment to Excellence. His singular approach to promoting, educating, and advancing aviation safety at both the unit and enterprise level is highly deserving of the 2016 Captain Marion Gus Shrode Aviation Safety Award.

HIS PERFORMANCE IS IN KEEPING WITH THE LEGACY OF CAPTAIN SHRODE AND A CREDIT TO COAST GUARD AVIATION AND THE PROFESSION OF AVIATION SAFETY.

PAST RECIPIENTS

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.

2016 LCDR James Cooley, CGAS Astoria
2015 LT Daniel Crowley, CGAS Houston
2014 Air Station Cape Cod Safety Department: LT Arthur Mahar, LT Garin Kirkpatrick, LT Kimberly Hess
2013 AS North Bend Safety Department: LCDR Jason Gelfand, LT Caroline Kearney
2012 AS Humboldt Bay Safety Department: LT Kelly Deuterman, LT Terrance Herdliska
2011 AS E-City Safety Department: LT Jeremy Davis, LT Thomas Huntley, LT Nicholas Hazlett
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 Borenquen

2016 Erickson Rotary Wing Awards

Captain Frank Erickson Rotary Wing Rescue Award

Crew of CGNR 6032, Air Station Sitka
LCDR Christopher S. Stoeckler
LT Matthew R. Herring
AET3 Class Jeremy A. Reed
AST2 Class Brendan D.Dent
HS2 Class Ryan F. Ransom

Media Gallery

Nomination Summary

The Captain Frank A. Erickson Award is presented to Air Station Sitka crew of CGNR 6032, LCDR Stoeckler, LT Herring, AET3 Reed, AST2 Dent and HS2 Ransom, in recognition of their heroic efforts on 17 July 2015, responding to a downed aircraft in the vicinity of Point Howard, Alaska. Upon notification a plane carrying five passengers had impacted the side of a mountain; the crew of CG6032 immediately configured the helicopter cabin for multiple casualties, charted the most expeditious route and launched into deteriorating weather conditions. En route, the crew of CG6032 battled low clouds,
20-knots winds in light rain and mist, and 1/4 mile visibility during the 170 nautical mile transit.

Due to the rugged terrain expected, CG6032 diverted to Juneau and embarked two Juneau Mountain Rescue (JMR) volunteers before continuing along a circuitous route via the inland pass with steeply rising terrain on both sides of the aircraft. Arriving at the last known position, the aircrew was unable to visually locate the crash site due to 600’ ceilings, so they devised a plan to place CG6032 in a high hover with the cabin door facing the mountain.

The flight mechanic conned the aircraft vertically, slowly ascending to the crash site while tracking the aircraft’s emergency beacon and cautiously keeping the main and tail rotors clear of obstacles. At 1,300’, the aircrew located the plane wreckage scattered amongst 200’ tall trees. Unable to be lowered directly to the crash site, the Rescue Swimmer, Aviation Mission Specialist (AMS) corpsman and the two JMR personnel were hoisted to a small clearing 100’ above the wreckage where they carefully descended via a precipitous 60 degree slope to assess the victims. Discovering two hypothermic victims and one suffering life threatening injuries, the four ground personnel painstakingly transported one littered survivor and assisted two others up the treacherously steep slope littered with aircraft debris, downed limbs, and high winds to reach the only available hoisting area.

With weather worsening, the crew of CG6032 conducted four demanding hoists of the injured survivors and AMS while overcoming a faulty internal communications system due to water intrusion from heavy rain. In order to avoid terrain and begin the transit to Juneau, CG6032 was forced to climb into instrument conditions and then execute an approach to the water from 1500’ down to 300’. Despite the malfunctioning communication system, they successfully navigated through 1/4 mile visibility, driving winds and rain to deliver the first three victims to emergency care. After delivering the survivors to awaiting EMS, CG6032 retraced the treacherous route to recover the last survivor and rescue team personnel.


THEIR PERFORMANCE IS IN KEEPING WITH THE TRADITION OF CAPTAIN FRANK ERICKSON ADDING A PROUD CHAPTER TO THE PROUD HISTORY OF COAST GUARD AVIATION.

PAST RECIPIENTS

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

2016 CGNR 6032 crew, AS Sitka
LCDR Christopher S. Stoeckler, LT Matthew R. Herring, AET3 Class Jeremy A. Reed, AST2 Class Brendan D.Dent, HS2 Class Ryan F. Ransom

2015 MH-60 CGNR 6033 crew AS Cape Cod
LT John D. Hess, LT Matthew R. Vanderslice, AMT2 Derrick P Suba, AST3 Evan A. Staph

2014 MH-65 CGNR 6515 crew, AS San Francisco
LCDR James Kenshalo, LT Beau Belanger, AST3 Corey Fix, AMT2 Travis Swain

2013 MH60T CGNR 6012 crew, Elizabeth City
LCDR Steven Cerveny, LT Jane Pena, AMT3 Michael Lufkin, AST2 Randy Haba

2012 HH-60 CG-6010 Crew, AS Kodiak
CDR Matthew Breckel, LT John Filipowicz, AMT2 Joshua Harris, AST2 Steven Fischer

2011 HH-60 CG-6013 crew, AS Kodiak
LCDR JAMES HARKINS, LT CHRISTOPHER STOECKLER, AET2 DAVID BALL, AST2 MICHAEL GERENT

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

2016 Stone Fixed Wing Awards

Commander Elmer Stone Fixed Wing Rescue Award

BARBERS POINT AIR STATION CREW OF HC-130 1790
LCDR ANTONE ALONG
I LT MATTHEW CHASE
AMTC JAMES STARR
AET1 CLASS WILLIAM OSTERHOUT
AET2 CLASS ROBERT WANDELL
AMT2 CLASS JEREMY ANDREWS
AMT2 DAELYN CHANEY

Media Gallery

Nomination Summary

The Commander Elmer F. Stone Award is presented to Air Station Barbers Point crew CGNR 1790 in recognition of their heroic efforts 9 July to 11 July 2015. The actions of LCDR Alongi, LT Chase, AMTC Starr, AET2 Osterhout, AET2 Wandell, AMT2 Andrew, and AMT3 Chaney resulted in the saving of 5 lives. On July 9th, Air Station Barbers Point received a launch notification to assist the island nation of Kiribati in finding five fishermen, who departed Teraina Island in a 14 foot skiff with no motor, radio or survival equipment, and had been missing for two days. The crew of CGNR 1790 oversaw the extensive planning effort to stage out of Christmas Island, and overcame significant logistical obstacles involved with operating out of an isolated foreign island nation. During the search effort, the aircrew mitigated the challenges presented by the lack of assets and planning tools by enlisting local sailing vessels in the search, and obtaining drift calculations from a nearby schooner.

After completing multiple patterns on the second day, the crew demonstrated exceptional on scene initiative by modifying the search action plan provided, taking into account the previously deployed Self Locating Datum Marker Buoy drift information, on scene environmental data and local knowledge. On the second leg of the new search, CGNR 1719 located the vessel and five survivors over 200 miles from their departure location, well outside of any assigned search area. With no vessels within 200 miles and nearing BINGO fuel state, the crew elected to deliver a Personal Locator Beacon from a crew survival vest along with a raft and supplies to ensure the stranded fishermen would survive overnight until a surface vessel could transit to their location. Knowing that returning to scene in time to vector the rescue vessel to the location was paramount, the crew decided to request a waiver of crew rest requirements from the Commanding Officer, in order to relocate the skiff and provide position updates. Shortly after arriving back on scene with the skiff, the rescue vessel was vectored alongside the survivors, saving five
 lives.

THEIR AERONAUTICAL SKILL AND COMPETENCE UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE TRADITION OF COMMANDER ELMER STONE AND ADDED A PROUD CHAPTER TO THE HISTORY OF COAST GUARD AVIATION.

PAST RECIPIENTS

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

2016 CREW OF HC-130 1790, CGAS BARBER’S POINT LCDR ANTONE ALONGI LT MATTHEW CHASE, AMTC JAMES STARR, AET1 CLASS WILLIAM OSTERHOUT, AET2 CLASS ROBERT WANDELL, AMT2 CLASS JEREMY ANDREWS, AMT2 DAELYN CHANEY

2015 HC-144 CGNR 2309 CREW, CGAS CAPE COD LT JAMISON R. FERRIELL, LT ERIK J. PRICE, AMT3 ERIC C. WOODS, AMT3 CHRISTOPHER S. LELYO

2014 HC-144 CGNR 2309 CREW, CGAS CAPE COD LT DUSTIN LEE, LT STEVEN VANDERLASKE, AMT1 STEPHEN UNDERWOOD, AMT3 ERIC WOODS

2013 HC-130J CGNR 2004 CREW, CGAS ELIZABETH CITY LT MICHAEL MYERS, LTJG FRANK MCINTOSH, AMT3 ERIC LASTER, AMT3 JESSE EMBERT, AMT1 HECTOR RIOS, AET1 JOSHUA ADAMS, AET3 JOSHUA VARGO

2012 HC-130 CGNR 1790 CREW. AS KODIAK LT ISRAEL YOUNG, LT JEANINE MENZE, LCDR MICHAEL BENSON, AET1 RODERICK HANSON, AMTC PAUL HENNING, AET3 DANE BUTLER, AMT1 JARED MORRISON, AET3 CLARK PATTERSON

2011 HC-144 CGNR 2306 CREW, AS MIAMI LT STACIA PARROTT, LTJG DANIEL FEIRMAN, AET1 THOMAS MORRELL, AMT2 CASEY GREEN, AMT2 JACOB EIDE, AET3 JEREMY CHURCH

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

2016 Berry Award

Chief Aviation Machinist Mate Oliver Berry Aviation Maintenance Award

AMT1 Jeremiah D. Branscomb, Aviation
Logistics Center

Media Gallery

Nomination Summary

AMT1 Jeremiah D. Branscomb of the Aviation Logistics Center (SRR Product Line) has demonstrated exemplary performance, technical expertise and leadership in all his many duties. AMT1 Branscomb met or exceeded all expectations, demonstrating extraordinary stewardship, superior dedication and outstanding leadership as well as supreme technical knowledge. His performance is in keeping with the legacy of Chief Oliver Berry and a credit to Coast Guard Aviation and the profession of aeronautical engineering.

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.

2016 AMT1 Jeremiah D. Branscomb, Aviation Logistics Center
2015 AMTC Joshua E. Vogan, CGAS Barbers Point
2014 AMT2 Christopher J. Roode of CGAS Elizabeth City
2013 AMTC Kevin Deininger, CGAS Barbers Point
2012 AMT1 Lawrence Peranto, CGAS Kodiak
2011 AMT1 Jacob Linder, CGAS Humboldt Bay
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

The Victor Roulund Rescue Swimmer Meritorious Achievement Award

Awarded every 2 years, last awarded in 2015:
ASTCM Thomas “Buck” Beaudry, USCG (AIRSTA Miami)
ASMCM Larry Farmer, USCG (Ret.)
ASTCM Joseph “Butch” Flythe, USCG (Ret.)
ASMCM Darell M. Gelakoska, USCG (Ret.)

Nomination Summary

The Victor Roulund Rescue Swimmer Meritorious Achievement Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Rescue Swimmer Program through sustained superior performance, significant initiative in technology or tactics, and unique or extraordinary accomplishments in other areas associated with the Program. This award is sponsored by the Coast Guard Aviation Association and established in 2015.

This award is named in honor of AD2 Victor Roulund, who was assigned to Air Station SanFrancisco, when in late December 1955, he was participating as a flight mechanic aboard CG­1305, an HO4S helicopter. His crew faced daunting weather and rescue challenges in the vicinity of the Yuba River in northern California, where countless homes and people were seriously stricken in extreme flooding conditions throughout the region. AD2 Roulund voluntarily accepted a very risky rescue attempt, after being hoisted down to a trailer home which was floating down the river. Using hand tools and quick intuition, he broke into the home which was nearly fully submerged, and rescued a woman who was completely disabled, and later placed her into the rescue basket for a successful hoist. AD2 Roulund and his fellow aircrew rescued a total of 138 people during a grueling 12 hour period of nonstop action. All four aircrew were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. AD2 Roulund’s actions have since been considered the first example of typical mission challenges faced by present day Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers.

CGAA Rescue Swimmer Meritorious Service Award Criteria