notify him on his selection and to also pass the news that he was being advanced to chief petty officer, a milestone in the career of any enlisted member. “It was extremely humbling, and it hit me very much out of left field,” said Curley. “It took some time to even grasp what was going on, and when it finally sank in, I just couldn’t have felt more honored.” On May 1, Curley and his family and friends attended an online advancement ceremony where he had his chief anchors pinned on for the first time signifying his new leadership role. Curley says he looks forward to becoming a leader in the Coast Guard as he becomes a chief and looks to inspire those around him. “My advice for other reservists would be to look for different opportunities, look at deployments and try to cross-train with different units,” said Curley. The Coast Guard Reserve Enlisted Person of the Year is designed to recognize the exemplary men and women of the active and reserve enlisted workforce showcasing top performers that reflect the Coast Guard’s core values. It’s a distinct honor bestowed on a precious few that carries its impact down the chain of command and is felt up at the very top. “Our service has been blessed with a large amount of talented individuals who have chosen the Coast Guard Reserve as a way to serve their country,” said Master Chief Gee Williamson, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve. “In determining candidates for this award, members are evaluated on a number of different qualities, measurements of their impact in the culture of the Coast Guard. Petty Officer Curley was deserving for his dedication to the Coast Guard and for his excellent representation of our core values while serving in the Reserve component. He has helped create great leaders, and ensured we continue down the path of excellence. Welcome to the Chiefs Mess, Chief Curley.” � Ready to Launch Chief Petty Officer Bob Martin was already working at Kennedy Space Center in 2016 when he was offered a job— at Kennedy Space Center—but this time, working for the Coast Guard. Or, more accurately, for the Air Force and the 45th Space Wing at Port Canaveral, Fla. “I didn’t have to take a second breath,” said Martin. I said, ‘Absolutely.’” While it was a jump from his civilian background in the financial world, the chief, a 20-year veteran, has served in the Canaveral area for the entirety of his career, most of it working for Station Port Canaveral, supporting shuttle launches from Kennedy Space Center. When he first started his career working at the station, he was part of the unit’s robust reserve staff that would surge during launch operations. As a boatswain’s mate, Martin was part of the team staffing the eight or ten boat crews that provided security around the clock 72 hours before a launch. Around 2009, he became more involved in the process, taking on the role of logistics petty officer in support of launch operations. But five years ago, Martin was hand-picked to be the Coast Guard’s boots-on-the-ground guy at Kennedy, liaising with the Air Force on behalf of the captain of the port to ensure the external parts of the launch are just as seamless as the internal ones. Last year, the number of launches almost doubled what it’d been the previous few years, and Martin said the Coast Guard can take on a variety of roles, depending on the type of launch operation. “The Coast Guard has the authority and jurisdiction in the marine environment,” said Martin. “Our role is everything from the safety and security broadcasts to ensuring we have capability in the event of a mishap, that we can have crews that will maintain a safety area, if that’s required. If there’s a high-profile launch, we can support with additional security.” He still maintains his coxswain and boarding officer qualifications at Station Port Canaveral, but he’s signed up to do another year at Kennedy. “Are you kidding? This is awesome,” said Martin. “This is the only position in the Coast Guard that’s assigned to space launch operations, I mean… wow.” � Issue 2 • 2020 � RESERVIST 25
