RECOGNITION Coast Guard Announces 2022 Inspirational Leadership Award Winners – Reserve Component Story by Janki Patel, MyCG Every year, the Inspirational Leadership Awards recognize Coast Guard active duty, reservists, civilians, and auxiliary volunteers who best exemplify the Coast Guard’s core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty. They honor up and coming leaders whose actions inspire their shipmates while advancing the Coast Guard’s service to the nation. The Reserve Component 2022 winners are Lt. Sara Cole (Captain John G. Witherspoon Inspirational Leadership Award—Reserve) and Chief Petty Officer Rafael Ortiz, maritime enforcement specialist (Master Chief Petty Officer Angela M. McShan Inspirational Leadership Award—Reserve). “Exceptional. Dedication. Leadership. Each of the 2022 Inspirational Leadership Award winners exemplify these descriptors in their own, unique way,” said Capt. Julie Kuck, deputy director, Civilian Human Resources, Diversity and Leadership. “And not only do their actions inspire their colleagues, but they serve as a model for the next generation of Coast Guard leaders.” The oldest of the Coast Guard Inspirational Leadership Awards, the Captain John G. Witherspoon Inspirational Leadership Award, is in honor of the second African American officer to command a Coast Guard cutter and the first African American to command a Coast Guard shore unit. Witherspoon was recognized as a leader, mentor and pioneer who commanded respect as a “do-as-I-do” leader. Lt. Sara Cole, a member of Coast Guard Port Security Unit 305 in Fort Eustis, Virginia, is someone who embraces the Coast Guard’s core values in all aspects of her life. She is a respected officer at Port Security Unit 305 because she rigorously adheres to the highest ethical principles, while providing compassionate leadership. She is a go-to resource for the command on any policy guidance. She provided members with counseling on enlisted evaluation reports, re-enlistment criteria, bonus eligibility, government travel credit card violations, and drug and alcohol abuse. With her integrity beyond reproach, she is known for doing the right thing regardless of the action being hard or unpopular and has been a staunch advocate for all. She ensured injured members received access to medical care, drafted 21 administrative remarks, and individually counseled members on the mandatory vaccine requirements. Her actions are done with a genuine kindness that makes her approachable for all ranks. Her innate desire to help others extended beyond the Coast Guard as she provided aid at a car accident in advance of emergency services and assisted fellow fire academy recruits with difficulties while providing them support and encouragement to persevere. The Master Chief Petty Officer Angela M. McShan Inspirational Leadership Award is named after a pioneer for women and African Americans in the Coast Guard. Admired for her devotion, exemplary leadership and professionalism, she was the first African American woman to be promoted to master chief petty officer and she had been slated to become the chief of yeoman A-school prior to her death. She was an inspiration to those who trained under her and left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her. Chief Petty Officer Rafael Ortiz of Coast Guard Reserve Unit SOUTHCOM is a leader who unfailingly supports and guides the command and models the core values in all aspects of his life. Ortiz demonstrated superior leadership volunteering to Lt. Sara Cole 2022 Captain John G. Witherspoon Inspirational Leadership Award— Reserve support SOUTHCOM operations for the August 2021 Haiti earthquake and subsequent humanitarian assistance / disaster response. Acting as the Coast Guard liaison officer, he prioritized capabilities and managed limited resources against mounting and competing demands. He was also instrumental in the delivery of almost 600,000 pounds of humanitarian cargo (food, water, medical equipment, and other critical relief supplies), and assistance or rescue of 477 people. Combatant commands are notoriously good opportunities to gain proficiency in joint operations, making them diverse leaders capable of partnering and coordinating operations with Department of Defense entities. Through Ortiz’s leadership and insight, enlisted members are increasing their footprint at the unit, gaining unprecedented opportunities to contribute to and benefit from the knowledge gained from an assignment to a COCOM. He is a servant leader, dedicated to the betterment of the unit, the Reserve, and the Coast Guard as a whole. In addition to his dedication to the service, Ortiz is devoted to his local community. As the president of his local motorcycle club, he spearheaded efforts to raise approximately $4,000 to purchase Christmas gifts for local families in need. The Office of Leadership solicits Inspirational Leadership Award nominations through an ALCOAST message each November with a two- month application window. Eligibility Chief Petty Officer Rafael Ortiz 2022 Master Chief Petty Officer Angela M. McShan Inspirational Leadership Award—Reserve requirements, specific guidelines and nomination procedures are outlined on the office’s website. � Editor’s note: This is an excerpt of a longer story. Issue 3 • 2022 � RESERVIST 39
