R 152001Z JAN 10 

ALCOAST 025/10
COMDTNOTE 5224
SUBJ: SOLICITATION FOR NOMINEES FOR THE 2010 ALEXANDER
HAMILTON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
1. I WAS PLEASED TO PRESENT THE FIRST-EVER HAMILTON AWARDS
TO THE AVIATION LOGISTICS CENTER AND SECTOR OHIO VALLEY
DURING THE 2009 INNOVATION EXPO.  I AM ENCOURAGED THAT THESE
AND OTHER UNITS ARE LEADING BY EXAMPLE AS WE EMBRACE THE
BEHAVIORS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHANGE-CENTRIC, LEARNING
ORGANIZATION.  THIS ALCOAST ANNOUNCES THE 2010 AWARD CYCLE
AND IS AN INVITATION TO EVERY COMMAND AND STAFF (UNIT) TO
CONSIDER PARTICIPATING.
2. I ESTABLISHED THIS LEADERSHIP AWARD TO IDENTIFY ROLE
MODELS AND ULTIMATELY RECOGNIZE ENTIRE UNITS THAT
DEMONSTRATE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS WHICH DELIVER EXCELLENT
RESULTS.  THE HAMILTON AWARD PURPOSES ARE TO:
  A. ENCOURAGE ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING AND A CHANGE-CENTRIC
CULTURE. USING THE WORLD-CLASS BALDRIGE MODEL, THE AWARD
PROCESS ASSESSES PERFORMANCE, REVEALS STRENGTHS AND
IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND GIVES NOMINEES ACTIONABLE
FEEDBACK TO CONTINUE REFINING THEIR SYSTEMS.
  B. IDENTIFY AND DISSEMINATE ROLE MODEL PRACTICES FOR
SERVICEWIDE USE AND LEARNING.
  C. EDUCATE AND SHOW LEADERS AND MANAGERS THE BENEFIT OF
USING THE BALDRIGE CRITERIA TO ASSESS AND IMPROVE SYSTEM
PERFORMANCE.
  D. RECOGNIZE AWARD RECIPIENTS AS COAST GUARD ROLE MODELS
THAT DELIVER EVER-IMPROVING EFFECTIVENESS, CAPABILITIES, AND
EXCELLENT SUSTAINED RESULTS.
3. NOMINEES WILL BE EVALUATED AND RECOGNIZED IN SIX
CATEGORIES:
  A. OPERATIONS-AFLOAT (SMALL), 70 OR FEWER MEMBERS.
  B. OPERATIONS-AFLOAT (LARGE), 71 OR MORE MEMBERS.
  C. OPERATIONS-ASHORE (SMALL), 70 OR FEWER MEMBERS.
  D. OPERATIONS-ASHORE (LARGE), 71 OR MORE MEMBERS.
  E. SUPPORT (SMALL), 70 OR FEWER MEMBERS.
  F. SUPPORT (LARGE), 71 OR MORE MEMBERS.
4. THE VICE COMMANDANT OVERSEES THE EVALUATION PROCESS,
INCLUDING EXAMINER TEAM VISITS TO THE MOST HIGHLY QUALIFIED
UNITS AND THE SENIOR LEADER AWARD PANEL THAT WILL USE
EXAMINER FINDINGS TO MAKE RECIPIENT RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
COMMANDANT.
5. I ENCOURAGE EVERY UNIT TO REFLECT ON ITS ABILITY TO
DEMONSTRATE SYSTEMATIC MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND EXCELLENT
RESULTS AND CONSIDER PARTICIPATING IN THE 2010 HAMILTON
AWARD PROCESS.  ALL COMMANDS AND STAFFS ARE ELIGIBLE AS LONG
AS THEIR SUPERIOR UNIT DOES NOT SUBMIT ITS OWN NOMINATION
REQUEST.  FOR EXAMPLE, IF A SECTOR ENGAGES IN THE PROCESS,
ITS SUBORDINATE COMMANDS WILL NECESSARILY BE INCLUDED IN THE
EVALUATION AND ARE THEREFORE NOT ELIGIBLE.  HOWEVER, IF A
SECTOR DOES NOT, EACH OF ITS SUBORDINATE COMMANDS IS
ELIGBILE TO ENGAGE. 2009 HAMILTON AWARD RECIPIENTS MAY NOT
PARTICIPATE AGAIN UNTIL THE 2012 CYCLE.
6. 2010 HAMILTON AWARD SCHEDULE.
  A. 16FEB10: ENDORSED NOMINATION REQUEST DUE TO COMDT
(CG-095).
  B. 18FEB10: COMDT (CG-095) PROVIDES NOMINATION REQUEST
PACKAGES TO RESPECTIVE FLAG NOMINATORS (VICE COMDT, DEPUTY
COMDTS, AND AREA COMMANDERS).
  C. 24FEB10: FLAG NOMINATORS SUBMIT NOMINEES TO COMDT
(CG-095).
  D. MARCH: TRAIN EXAMINERS, BEGIN COMPETITIVE EVALUATION.
  E. APR-MAY: CONDUCT MOST HIGHLY QUALIFIED UNIT SITE
VISITS.
  F. JULY: CONVENE AWARD PANEL, RECOMMEND RECIPIENTS TO THE
COMDT.
  G. AUGUST: ANNOUNCE AWARD RESULTS VIA ALCOAST.
  H. NOVEMBER: RECOGNIZE 2010 HAMILTON AWARD RECIPIENTS AT
THE 2010 USCG INNOVATION EXPO IN TAMPA, FL.
7. EXAMINERS ARE NEEDED TO EVALUATE PROSPECTIVE AWARD
RECIPIENTS.  SERVING AS A HAMILTON AWARD EXAMINER IS AN
EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AND CAN
PROVIDE VALUABLE INSIGHT TO UNITS THAT ARE CONSIDERING
ENGAGING IN THE AWARD PROCESS NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.
VOLUNTEER SOLICITATION AND DETAILS WILL BE ISSUED UNDER
SEPARATE ALCOAST.
8. UNITS INTERESTED IN PURSUING THE HAMILTON AWARD CAN FIND
DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDING THE NOMINATION REQUEST FORM
AND REQUIREMENTS AND THE 2009-2010 BALDRIGE CRITERIA ON THE
CG PORTAL AT
HTTPS://CGPORTAL.USCG.MIL/LOTUS/MYQUICKR/PERFORMANCE-
EXCELLENCE/2010-HAMILTON-AWARD.  THE COAST GUARD'S
ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE CONSULTANTS ARE A SUPERB RESOURCE
TO ASSIST YOU IN PREPARING YOUR NOMINATION REQUEST. OPC
CONTACT INFO CAN BE FOUND ON THE ABOVE PORTAL PLACE.  FOR
ADDITIONAL INFO OR ASSITANCE, CONTACT DR. DAVID KING,
DAVID.S.KING(AT)USCG.MIL OR 202-372-4584.
9. ADM THAD W. ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
10. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.