After completing the Coast Guard’s Reserve Officer Candidate Indoctrination class in New London, Connecticut last July, she landed in the Sector North Carolina Prevention Department working on the inspections side. There, she found a new set of skills and applications. “It’s cool, because a lot of it is environmental- related compliance issues,” said Farquhar. “You meet really interesting people from all walks of life, and it feels very hands-on. On her last drill weekend, the new officer was on a port state control inspection where she met the vessel’s crew and assisted with inspecting the life raft supplies. “That feels really good knowing that, if they were to get in trouble when they’re crossing the Atlantic Ocean, I know for a fact their life raft works.” While she values the new skills she’s learning, she can see a potential for other ways to contribute to the Coast Guard’s mission, given her research background. “It’s crazy, because as an officer, you’re really a jack of all trades. I could be in a prevention shop, or I could be at a port security unit, or I could take active duty orders to teach at the academy—I like that you can try different things. But in D.C., I saw a couple fishery policy analyst billets, and I thought, ‘That would be perfect for me!’ I saw these illegal fishing study billets, and I thought, ‘I know about that, I could do that.’ So I see all sorts of cool opportunities for reservists that I’d like to take advantage of, but it’s also fun learning other not-fish parts of environmental regulation, like oil spills and knowing the [Code of Federal Regulations].” Though only a year into her career as a Coast Guardsman, Farquhar is adding officer specialty codes in international affairs and French, and working on qualifications that will make her marketable and appealing at promotion time. “I’m still so new and fresh that everything is exciting to me,” said Farquhar. “I can try out new things and see where I can apply the skills I have, or grow and obtain new skills and be useful.” At the end of her doctoral program, Farquhar will contribute her skills to another government agency—the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency in Virginia. This is the result of being chosen for the Department of Defense’s SMART Scholarship, which pays for education for full- time students studying STEM-related fields, and leads to a guaranteed full-time position with a DoD-related organization after graduation. She said she’s excited to join her new agency and see her research used for practical purposes in supporting a mission. And that’s the impact that every kid dreams about having one day. “I feel lucky that they picked me up,” she said. “I like the idea of being able to do research that I know is going to have an impact.” Applications for the DoD SMART scholarship are due Dec. 1; visit smartscholarship.org. . . A career on the go Story by Master Chief Petty Officer Susan Blake Senior Chief Petty Officer Sherri Eng is one of few people who can actually say they’re a lifelong native of San Francisco. A true Californian, she has spent much of her dual career across the state. Eng graduated with a bachelor’s in business from University of California Berkeley, a master’s in journalism from Northwestern (and a second master’s from San Jose State!). As a civilian, she serves as an external affairs officer for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), overseeing external communications for Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and the Pacific Islands. “CISA is a component agency of the Department of Homeland Security, so I work for DHS double-time,” said Eng. “I enjoy the variety of my job. I get to do everything from strategic communications and media relations to congressional relations, website management and social media. There’s never a dull moment.” Eng first heard about the Coast Guard when she was in the Sea Scouts and a crew member aboard the Sea Scout Ship Intrepid. The Sea Scouts would participate in regattas and other events where the Coast Guard had a supporting presence. Eng wanted to join the service to serve her country and help the local community as well. Since she was a newspaper reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, she chose public affairs as her specialty. She left for bootcamp Sept. 9, 2001, just two days before 9/11. “It was a scary time,” said Eng. “Some of my shipmates were immediately deployed after we finished boot camp.” Though frequently on active duty orders, Eng is a member of the District 11 Public Affairs Office; she said some of her favorite experiences during her 21- year military career include two weeks aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle and 10 weeks serving as the Fourteenth District public affairs officer in Hawaii. “Getting underway with the Eagle was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Eng. “There’s nothing like being out at sea on such a beautiful ship. And, who can complain about two and a half months in paradise?” In her off-duty time, Eng enjoys training and competing in triathlons. She has completed numerous sprint, Olympic and half-Ironman distance events. This year, she completed her first full Ironman—a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a full marathon to the finish. Eng said she’s most proud of the reserve PAs that she’s worked with over the years. “I have enjoyed watching them grow, both as individuals and as Coast Guard public affairs professionals,” said Eng, adding, “I love my peeps!” . Issue 2 • 2023 . RESERVIST 31 CELEBRATING CELEBRATING 70 70 YEARS OF THE RESERVIST YEARS OF THE RESERVIST
