R 051541Z JUN 12

ALCOAST 270/12
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: 2012 LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS (LULAC)
EXCELLENCE IN MILITARY SERVICE AWARD WINNERS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 021235Z FEB 12/ALCOAST 044/12
1. IT IS A PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT MARITIME ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST
FIRST CLASS XIMENA JOHNSON OF SECTOR HAMPTON ROADS AND MR. RICHARD
LOPEZ OF SECTOR SAN FRANCISCO HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS THE 2012 LEAGUE
OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS AWARD WINNERS.
2. ME1 JOHNSON DISTINGUISHED HERSELF AS A LEADER AND MENTOR WHILE
SUPPORTING NUMEROUS COAST GUARD MISSIONS. AS LEAD INSPECTOR DURING
TWO MULTI-AGENCY STRIKE FORCE OPERATIONS, SHE DILIGENTLY LED CG AND
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN INSPECTIONS OF OVER 300 INTERMODAL
CONTAINERS FOR STRUCTURAL SAFETY AND SHIPPING OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.
DURING THE SECTORS RESPONSE TO HURRICANE IRENE, ME1 JOHNSONS SINGULAR
EFFORTS AS A PORT ASSESSMENT TEAM LEADER ENABLED THE COMMAND TO
RECEIVE REAL TIME PORT CONDITIONS, EXPEDITING THE REOPENING OF THE
PORT LESS THAN TWENTY HOURS AFTER THE STORM HAD PASSED. IN SUPPORT OF
THE INTERNATIONAL TRAINING DETACHMENTS MISSION, ME1 JOHNSON DEPLOYED
TO COSTA RICA IN JUNE 2011 TO TRAIN 40 COSTA RICAN CG MEMBERS IN
MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SELF DEFENSE TECHNIQUES. AS A STAUNCH
LEADER OF THE SECTORS LEADERSHIP AND DIVERSITY ADVISORY COUNCIL, ME1
JOHNSON MADE NOTEWORTHY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ELIMINATION OF
PREJUDICIAL AND DISCRIMINATORY ACTIONS IN THE WORKPLACE. SHE WAS ALSO
DESIGNATED AS AN ASSAULT VICTIM ADVOCATE TO PROVIDE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
AND ASSISTANCE TO SERVICE MEMBERS AND PERSONNEL. SHOWCASING HER
STRONG COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE, ME1 JOHNSON ALSO COORDINATED
THE SECTORS PARTICIPATION IN THE ANGEL TREE AND TOYS FOR TOTS
PROGRAMS.
3. MR. RICHARD LOPEZ HAS MADE NUMEROUS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO
SECTOR SAN FRANCISCO, THE CG, AND VETERANS LIVING IN THE BAY AREA. A
QUALIFIED COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL SAFETY EXAMINER, MR. LOPEZ
VOLUNTEERED TO PROVIDE VESSEL SAFETY EXAMINATIONS AND EDUCATE
FISHERMEN ABOUT VESSEL TRAFFIC SERVICES. FOR NEARLY TEN YEARS, MR.
LOPEZ HAS VOLUNTEERED AS THE SECTORS EDUCATIONAL SERVICE OFFICER
MENTORING AND PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR 700
MILITARY AND  CIVILIAN PERSONNEL. IN ADDITION TO HIS REGULAR DUTIES,
MR. LOPEZ ALSO WORKED NUMEROUS HOURS HOSTING COLLEGE FAIRS AND OTHER
OUTREACH PROGRAMS, INCLUDING VOLUNTEERING WITH THE DHS VETERANS
OUTREACH CADRE, ASSISTING VETERANS WITH JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATION
AND HOSTING EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION WORKSHOPS AND JOB FAIRS. MR. LOPEZ
MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR THE CG AND HIS COMMUNITY AND EMBODIES THE CG
CORE VALUES OF HONOR, RESPECT, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY.
4. THE AWARD HONOREES WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THE LULAC MILITARY AWARDS
DINNER DURING THE LULAC NATIONAL CONVENTION AND EXPOSITION IN
ORLANDO, FL, 25-30 JUNE 2012. COMDT (CG-00H) WILL COORDINATE
ATTENDANCE FOR AWARD WINNERS IAW REF A, AND IF APPROVED WILL FUND
TRAVEL AND LODGING EXPENSES FOR AWARD RECIPIENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE EVENT.
5. TWO ADDITIONAL NOMINEES, MR. LUIS AVALOS OF THE SPECIAL MISSIONS
TRAINING CENTER AND LTJG CHRISTOPHER HUNT OF SECTOR NEW YORK, ARE
ALSO COMMENDED FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
6. MORE DETAILS REGARDING LULAC CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.LULAC.ORG.
7. CIVIL RIGHTS AWARDS PROGRAMS HELP MAXIMIZE THE COAST GUARDS
OVERALL MISSION EFFECTIVENESS BY FOSTERING A DISCRIMINATION FREE
ENVIRONMENT THROUGH RECOGNITION OF MEMBER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND
CONTRIBUTIONS TO CIVIL RIGHTS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, MINORITY
COMMUNITIES, AND PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION (PIE) PROGRAMS. LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE USCG CIVIL RIGHTS VISION AND MISSION AT
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/CG00/CG00H/.
8. MS. TERRI A. DICKERSON, DIRECTOR, CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTORATE, SENDS.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.