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.

Captain Marion “Gus” Shrode Flight Safety Award

LT Daniel Crowley, CGAS Houston

Nomination Summary

During the period of 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2015 LT Crowley exhibited superior performance as both the Flight and Ground Safety Officer for Air Station Houston. Working closely with the Air Station Houston command cadre, LT Crowley worked tirelessly to forge an open reporting culture that was founded on the Just Culture ethos and the Commandant’s core values. As a result, Air Station Houston set the standard for the Coast Guard Aviation Community in mishap response, analysis and reporting all of which culminated in a significant reduction in the Air Station Houston mishap rate.

Other accomplishments of note included the establishment of a unit Human Factors Council to address the safety and performance of all aircrew; a complete overhaul of the unit’s operational risk management program as well as the monthly Flight and Ground Safety Boards to identify safety concerns, enhance aircrew proficiency, and ensure all air station processes were continually monitored for effectiveness; the implementation of an innovative weather safety alerting system for command personnel; partnering with the NTSB to thoroughly analyze a Class A mishap involving a local Coast Guard Auxiliary aircraft; the planning and execution of two full-scale mishap drills with local, district, and HQ entities; the implementation of a 4-month safety pause for night shift maintenance and the enactment of a duty section maintenance plan following the loss of the unit hangar lighting system; leveraging fallout funding to purchase a drive-on fuel truck spill containment system and procuring enhanced spill response kits; and initiating numerous safety recommendations resulting in enterprise-wide improvements in operational reliability and efficiency.

As the Air Station Houston Flight Safety Officer, LT Crowley embodies the Commandant’s guiding principles of Duty to People and Commitment to Excellence. His attention to detail and devotion to duty are paramount to the unit’s safe execution of Coast Guard missions, and as such are highly deserving of the 2015 Captain Marion “Gus” Shrode Aviation Safety Award.

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.

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

Captain Frank Erickson Rotary Wing Rescue Award

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

Nomination Summary

The Captain Frank A. Erickson Award is presented to Air Station Cape Cod crew of CGNR 6033 in recognition of their heroic efforts on 15 February 2015. The action of LT Hess, LT Vanderslice, AMT2 Suba and AST3 Staph resulted in saving two sailors from the sailing vessel SEDONA. Demonstrating superior airmanship and judgment, the aircrew of CGNR 6033 responded to a 406 MHZ EPIRB from the SN SEDONA located 200 nm south of Cape Cod in the middle of a severe winter blizzard.

The treacherous weather engulfing the entire East Coast grounded three other Coast Guard aircraft, leaving the CGNR 6033 150 NM from the closest point of land without a cover aircraft to provide communications or rescue assistance. After battling snow, ice, turbulence and hurricane force winds for over an hour and a half, CGNR 6033 arrived on scene and lowered the rescue swimmer into 60 knot winds and 35′, raging,freezing seas. The temperatures were so cold, immediately upon opening the cabin door, the flight mechanic was blinded when his visor flash froze. Further complicating the rescue,during the third of seven hoists CGNR 6033’s primary hoist control unit failed and would only operate in the up direction.

During the recovery of the second survivor on back up hoist controls, the rescue basket began to swing towards the survivor. The rescue swimmer bravely blocked the basket with his arm to prevent the basket from contacting the survivor’s head. Due to the lack of adequate hoist controls, the basket had not discharged its static buildup in the ocean. When the basket struck the rescue swimmer, the static discharge was so great it temporarily disoriented the rescue swimmer for approximately five seconds. During that time, the rescue swimmer never let go of the survivor. Quickly recovering his senses, the rescue swimmer assisted the survivor into the rescue basket and completed the hoist. After completing the recovery of the rescue swimmer, CGNR 6033 turned for home and encountered the same blizzard conditions for the transit back to Cape Cod. Arriving in white out conditions and relying on sea dye markers to identify the runway, CGNR 6033 landed afely on deck at Air Station Cape Cod and delivered the survivors to awaiting EMS.

PAST RECIPIENTS

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

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 Hutt

Stone Award

Commander Elmer Stone Fixed Wing Rescue Award

HC-144 CGNR 2309 crew, CGAS Cape Cod LT Jamison R. Ferriell LT Erik J. Price AMT3 Eric C. Woods AMT3 Christopher S. Lelyo

Nomination Summary

The Commander Elmer F. Stone Award is presented to the Air Station Cape Cod crew CGNR 2309 in recognition of their heroic efforts on 08 February 2015. The actions of LT Ferriell,LT Price, AMT3 Woods ,and AMT3 Lelyo resulted in the saving of a premature baby via medical evacuation (MEDEVAC). Demonstrating superior airmanship and judgment the crew of CGNR 2309 launched for the transport of a neonatal medical team and an emergency MEDEVAC of an infant on Nantucket Island. Time was of the essence for the crew of CGNR 2309 as doctors indicated that the infant had less than four hours to live. A daunting winter storm grounded civilian Life Flight services, leaving the infant struggling to breathe and without critical medical assistance. Immediately upon notification, the aircrew began to configure the aircraft for the demanding mission and the pilots coordinated complex aircraft weight and balance to ensure the aircraft’s limited cargo capacity was adequate for the delivery of a three man specialized medical team and a 455 pound neonatal self-contained incubator. Taking off at the extreme limits of the aircraft performance envelope and into white out, blizzard conditions, the crew battled snow, ice, and turbulence enroute to Nantucket. Upon arriving on scene, the crew found the short, narrow, uncontrolled field to be near approach minimums. Once on deck, the crew’s expert direction of airport ground and ambulance crews facilitated a speedy and life saving medical transfer. Returning to Air Station Cape Cod was even more difficult than the departure with ceilings and visibility at precision approach minimums and crosswinds at limits. The crew safely executed an approach to the ice and snow covered runway, saving one life.

PAST RECIPIENTS

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

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 MUDG

Chief Aviation Machinist Mate Oliver Berry Aviation Maintenance Award

AMTC Joshua E. Vogan, CGAS Barbers Point

Nomination Summary

Awarded for Demonstrating exceptional leadership, superb technical expertise and professionalism, AMTC Vogen played a key role in the success of Air Station Barbers Point’s Aviation Engineering Division and improved the maintenance quality and efficiency of the HC-130 program as a whole. He successfully leveraged his technical expertise, systems knowledge, and outstanding initiative to achieve success with the Barber’s Point aircrew training program, unit HC-130H maintenance execution, and continuous improvement of the HC-130H’s T-56-15 engine power plant maintenance program for the entire HC-130H fleet. His work to identify a replaceable filter stem for both the engine power section and gearbox oil filter assemblies alleviated the need to replace the entire filter assembly and still maintained the requisite airworthiness standards, achieving over $50,000 in annual cost avoidance for the Coast Guard HC-130H program. For sustained professionalism, leadership, and mentorship supporting a benchmark HC-130H maintenance program that directly enhanced the operational capability of Coast Guard Aviation. His outstanding contributions and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.

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.

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 Miam

The Victor Roulund Rescue Swimmer Meritorious Achievement Award

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