R 191943Z FEB 10 

ALCOAST 085/10
COMDTNOTE 5224
SUBJ: CAPTAIN NIELS P. THOMSEN INNOVATION AWARD PROGRAM
A. COAST GUARD INNOVATION PROGRAM, COMDTINST 5224.13(SERIES)
1. THIS ALCOAST SOLICITS NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2010 CAPTAIN NIELS P.
THOMSEN INNOVATION AWARDS OUTLINED IN REFERENCE (A). THIS ANNUAL
AWARD PROGRAM RECOGNIZES THE EXEMPLARY EFFORTS OF COAST GUARD
INDIVIDUALS OR TEAMS WHO HAVE CREATED OR IMPLEMENTED INNOVATIVE
SOLUTIONS TO USCG CHALLENGES.
2. INNOVATION AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM IN
EACH OF FOUR CATEGORIES:
      A. SCIENCE OR TECHNOLOGY
      B. OPERATIONS OR READINESS
      C. ADMINISTRATION, TRAINING, OR SUPPORT
      D. THE CDR JOEL MAGNUSSEN INNOVATION AWARD FOR MANAGEMENT
3. ALL COAST GUARD ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE, CIVILIAN, AUXILIARY, OR
RETIRED PERSONNEL ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION. THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF CONTRACT PERSONNEL MAY BE ACKNOWLEDGED WHEN PART
OF A PROJECT TEAM. CAPTAIN NIELS P. THOMSEN INNOVATION AWARD
NOMINATIONS MAY BE SUBMITTED VIA COAST GUARD INTRANET AND SHALL
FOLLOW THE FORMAT PRESCRIBED AT
HTTP://CGWEB.PACAREA.USCG.MIL/PAIC/DATABASE.HTM. NOTE: TO BE
CONSIDERED, ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA THE INNOVATION
DATABASE WITH A FAVORABLE ENDORSEMENT FROM THEIR COMMAND.
4. AWARD NOMINATIONS MAY BE SUBMITTED YEAR ROUND. HOWEVER, THE
DEADLINE FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THE 2010 AWARDS IS 31 MAR 10.
HEADQUARTERS, ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC AREA INNOVATION COUNCILS WILL
REVIEW NOMINATIONS FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY.
EACH COUNCIL WILL FORWARD TO THE COMMANDANTS INNOVATION COUNCIL THE
TOP NOMINATION FROM EACH CATEGORY WHICH BEST MEETS THE SELECTION
CRITERIA. THE COMMANDANTS INNOVATION COUNCIL WILL REVIEW THE
NOMINATIONS AND MAKE SELECTION RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMANDANT
VIA THE VICE COMMANDANT.
5. EACH NOMINATION PACKAGE COMPETES DIRECTLY WITH OTHER NOMINATIONS
IN THE SAME CATEGORY AND WILL BE JUDGED USING THE FOLLOWING
CRITERIA:
      A. PRESENTS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO SOLVING A SPECIFIC
COAST GUARD CHALLENGE,
      B. THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED AT THE LOCAL,
DISTRICT/AREA, OR NATIONAL LEVEL, AND
      C. INCREASES EFFICIENCY (REDUCES PERSONNEL HOURS OR
RESOURCES), PRODUCTIVITY (GREATER CAPABILITY OR EFFECTIVENESS),
INFORMATION SHARING OR RESOURCE COORDINATION, OR PROVIDES OTHER
TANGIBLE OR INTANGIBLE PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS.
6. WITH THE 2009 AWARD CYCLE, THE COMMANDANT IDENTIFIED DIRECTORATE
LEVEL PROJECT CHAMPIONS FOR EACH WINNING EFFORT. THIS FORMAL
PRACTICE ENSURES PROGRAM ACCOUNTABILITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL FOLLOW
THROUGH. WE AGAIN EXTEND OUR CONGRATULATIONS AND SUPPORT TO THE
2009 CAPTAIN NIELS P. THOMSEN INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS AND LOOK
FORWARD TO A PROJECT STATUS UPDATE AT THIS YEARS EXPO IN TAMPA, FL.
ONCE MORE, THEY ARE:
      A. SCIENCE OR TECHNOLOGY: ANT SOUTH PORTLAND, ME FOR THE
CARMANAH FIELD TESTING UNIT AND USCGC BERTHOLF FOR THE VOICE OVER
IP (VOIP) IN WMSL STATEROOMS INITIATIVE. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
CHAMPIONED BY COMDT (CG-4) AND COMDT (CG-6) RESPECTIVELY.
      B. OPERATIONS OR READINESS: LANTAREA FOR THE MARINE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM COMMON ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING TOOL (CART).
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY CHAMPIONED BY COMDT (CG-5).
      C. ADMINISTRATION, TRAINING OR SUPPORT: MAINTENANCE AND
LOGISTICS COMMAND, ATLANTIC FOR THE DEPOT LEVEL ENGINEERING
SPECIFICATION COMPILER. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY CHAMPIONED BY COMDT
(CG-4).
      D. THE CDR JOEL MAGNUSSEN INNOVATION AWARD FOR MANAGEMENT:
THE WINNER IS USCGC HEALY FOR THE SHIPBOARD WASTE
MANAGEMENT/RECYCLING PROGRAM. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY CHAMPIONED BY
COMDT (CG-4).
7. THE 2010 AWARD WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY ALCOAST IN MAY AND
THEN FORMALLY RECOGNIZED AT THE 2010 INNOVATION EXPO SCHEDULED FOR
2-4 NOV 2010 IN TAMPA BAY, FL. THE COMMANDANTS INNOVATION COUNCIL
FUNDS EXPO ATTENDANCE FOR INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS AND UP TO TWO
REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH AWARD WINNING TEAM. EACH COMMAND
ORIGINATING AN AWARD-WINNER WILL RECEIVE 10,000 DOLLARS IN FY10
AFC-30 FUNDS TO RECOGNIZE AND FURTHER PROMOTE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT
DRIVES INNOVATION.
8. COMDT (CG-0954) COORDINATES THIS AWARD PROGRAM. FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT CDR HUGH R. GRIFFITHS, 202-372-4560
OR MR. FRED HOOGHOUSE, 202-372-4579. BOTH MAY BE REACHED AT
INNOVATION(AT)USCG.MIL.
9. RELEASED BY CAPT B. C. JONES, ACTING DIRECTOR OF COAST GUARD
ENTERPRISE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AND DOCTRINE.
10. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.