R 081859Z AUG 12

ALCOAST 366/12
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: 2012 NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MEXICAN AMERICAN RIGHTS
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 021235Z FEB 12/ALCOAST 044/12
1. IT IS A PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT PETTY OFFICER ANDRES VALVERDE OF
CG TELECOMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS COMMAND AND MR. MIGUEL
FLORES OF CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTORATE REGION TWO HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS
THE CG 2012 NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MEXICAN AMERICAN RIGHTS
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD WINNERS.
2. PETTY OFFICER VALVERDE IS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS PERFORMANCE
EXCELLENCE AND SELFLESS CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR SERVICE. HE WAS OFTEN
THE FIRST TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE MOST CHALLENGING ASSIGNMENTS. WHEN
ASSIGNED TO A POSITION FOCUSED ON PROCUREMENT, YN3 VALVERDE EXCELLED
IN THE ROLE, PROCESSING APPROXIMATELY 600 ERROR-FREE PURCHASE
REQUESTS TOTALING OVER 400 THOUSAND DOLLARS. A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER IN
THE PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION (PIE) PROGRAM, HE WAS NOMINATED FOR THE
FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BRUCE OLIVER LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR
VOLUNTEER SERVICE AT THE QUANDER ROAD SCHOOL. YN3 VALVERDE PROVIDED
BILINGUAL TUTORING FOR ONE STUDENT APPLYING FOR U.S. CITIZENSHIP. HE
GATHERED MATERIALS IN BOTH LANGUAGES, DEVELOPED STUDY NOTEBOOKS AND
WORKED ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING AND SERVING AS A ROLE MODEL.
3. THROUGHOUT HIS MILITARY CAREER AND CONTINUED SERVICE AS A CIVILIAN
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY SPECIALIST, MR. FLORES DEMONSTRATED A
STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO THE AMERICAN IDEAL OF FAIR AND EQUITABLE
TREATMENT FOR ALL. HE HAS BEEN A STRONG PROPONENT OF ELIMINATION OF
BARRIERS THAT INHIBIT THE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ANY
EMPLOYEE. A MEDIATOR FOR CG AND PARTNER FEDERAL AGENCIES, MR. FLORES
NOT ONLY ASSISTED THESE AGENCIES IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL
ANTI-DISCRIMINATION STATUTES BUT FACILITATED A TREMENDOUS SAVINGS FOR
CG AND OTHER SERVICES IN MEDIATION COSTS AND THE COST OF PROCESSING
COMPLAINTS. MR. FLORES POSSESSES AN INNATE ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH
FELLOW EMPLOYEES AND YOUTH PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. HE CONTRIBUTED
NUMEROUS HOURS MENTORING SPANISH SPEAKING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
ENROLLED IN ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (ESOL) COURSES
AND SERVES AS A PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION VOLUNTEER AT MIAMIS MARINE
AND SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY.
4. I COMMEND OUR WINNERS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND FOR
PROMOTING THE TENETS OF CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AND
HUMAN RELATIONS. THE HONOREES WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THE NOMAR AWARDS
CEREMONY ON 29 AUGUST IN DENVER, CO. COMDT (CG-00H) WILL COORDINATE
ATTENDANCE FOR YN3 VALVERDE AND MR. FLORES IAW REF A, AND IF APPROVED
WILL FUND TRAVEL AND LODGING EXPENSES FOR THE AWARD RECIPIENTS TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT.
5. MORE DETAILS REGARDING NOMAR CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.NOMARINC.ORG.
6. 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 PROGRAMS. LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE USCG CIVIL RIGHTS VISION, MISSION, AWARDS PROGRAM, AND CG PIE AT
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/CG00/CG00H/.
7. MS. TERRI A. DICKERSON, DIRECTOR, CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTORATE, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.