R 191213Z JUL 10

ALCOAST 383/10
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: CAPT EDWARD R. WILLIAMS EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENT
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC R 291354Z MAR 10/ALCOAST 152/10
1. CONGRATULATIONS TO LCDR ZEITA MERCHANT, THE 2010 HONOREE OF THE
CAPT EDWARD R. WILLIAMS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY. THIS
PRESTIGIOUS AWARD RECOGNIZES A COAST GUARD OFFICER MOST SUPPORTIVE OF
INITIATIVES TO ACHIEVE, VALUE, AND MANAGE DIVERSITY IN THE UNITED
STATES COAST GUARD.
2. LCDR MERCHANT CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE IN
ACHIEVING, VALUING, AND MANAGING DIVERSITY IN HER PROFESSIONAL AND
PERSONAL ENDEAVORS. AS A FULL-TIME GRADUATE STUDENT WORKING ON HER
SECOND MASTERS DEGREE AND DOCTORATE SIMULTANEOUSLY, SHE VOLUNTEERED
HUNDREDS OF HOURS TO PARTICIPATE IN NUMEROUS DIVERSITY OUTREACH
EVENTS BOTH NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
     A. IN HER SUPPORT OF COAST GUARD DIVERSITY OUTREACH, LCDR
MERCHANT PARTICIPATED IN HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
(HBCU) WEEK, SITE VISITS AT HBCUS, THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
CONFERENCE, THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS, AND THE BLACK
ENGINEER OF THE YEAR CONFERENCE. ALSO, AT THE WOMEN OF COLOR IN
TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE SHE SPOKE BEFORE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS,
PROMOTING THE COAST GUARD AS AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE.
     B. LCDR MERCHANT ALSO VOLUNTEERED AS AN HBCU AMBASSADOR AT
SPELLMAN COLLEGE, WHERE SHE ORGANIZED THE FIRST CG SPONSORED
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CALLED SPELLMAN WOMEN EMPOWERED
THROUGH PROFESSIONAL TRAINING (SWEPT). THE SWEPT PROGRAM CONTRIBUTED
TO A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN CSPI INTEREST, AND A 75 PERCENT
INCREASE IN MINORITY APPLICANTS TO THE COAST GUARD. HER ACTIONS WERE
INSTRUMENTAL IN THE COAST GUARD RECEIVING OUR FIRST HBCU TOP
SUPPORTER AWARD IN JULY 2010.
     C. LCDR MERCHANT IS A LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE COMMANDANTS
DIVERSITY ADVISORY COUNCIL. AS SUCH, SHE HAS SERVED AS A MEMBER OF
SEVERAL DIVERSITY OUTREACH TEAMS, AND HAS WORKED WITH SENIOR
LEADERSHIP ON CREATING THE NEW DIVERSITY STRATEGIC PLAN, ORGANIZING
THE 2010 DIVERSITY SUMMIT, AND DRAFTING THE OPSEC DIVERSITY ACTION
PLAN.
     D. IN HER PROMOTION OF DIVERSITY INITIATIVES, SHE HAS SERVED ON
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD FOR THE NATIONAL COUNSEL OF NEGRO WOMEN AND ON
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WITHIN DHS. ALSO, IN
HER PARTICIPATION WITH WOMEN OF DEFENSE, SHE HAS MADE A GLOBAL IMPACT
ON WOMEN OF COLOR LOCATED ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS WITHIN THE U.S.
AND ABROAD, AND SHE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE NETWORK OF MENTORING AND
SUPPORT TO WOMEN OF COLOR WOUNDED WARRIORS, MILITARY FAMILIES, AND
FEMALE YOUTH.
     E. LCDR MERCHANT ESTABLISHED STRONG TIES WITH THE RIPPLE
INSTITUTE, A LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS MINORITIES
IN STEM FIELDS. IN DOING SO, SHE SECURED A CG SPONSORSHIP AND ENABLED
55 HBCU STUDENTS TO ATTEND THE 2010 BEYA AWARDS STEM GLOBAL
COMPETITIVENESS CONFERENCE. SHE ALSO ORGANIZED AN INTRODUCTION TO THE
COAST GUARD FOR THE HBCU STUDENTS THAT INCLUDED AN ENGINEERING PANEL,
RECRUITING PANEL, FLAG OFFICER MEET AND GREET, AND A TOUR OF THE
COAST GUARD CUTTER BARQUE EAGLE.
3. LCDR MERCHANT HAS DEMONSTRATED EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP IN CHAMPIONING
DIVERSITY FOR THE COAST GUARD AND HER COMMUNITY. HER NOTEWORTHY
ACHIEVEMENTS UNDERSCORE THE VALUE OF DIVERSITY IN RECRUITMENT,
RETENTION AND MENTORING. WE SALUTE LCDR MERCHANT FOR HER SUPERIOR
PERFORMANCE AND COMMITMENT, AND CONGRATULATE HER ON HER SELECTION FOR
THE CAPT EDWARD R. WILLIAMS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY. BRAVO
ZULU FOR A JOB WELL DONE. LCDR MERCHANT WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THE
ANSO/NNOA CONFERENCE AWARDS PRESENTATION CEREMONY IN PORTSMOUTH,
VIRGINIA ON 28 JULY 2010.
4. ADDITIONALLY, WE APPLAUD THE EFFORTS OF ALL OF OUR NOMINEES AND
THOSE WHO SUBMITTED THEIR NOMINATIONS. YOUR ACTIONS DEMONSTRATE
EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY MANAGEMENT, AND PROMOTE AN INCLUSIVE CLIMATE
WITHIN YOUR WORKPLACE AND COMMUNITY. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO
SELECT ONE RECIPIENT FROM THE MANY OUTSTANDING NOMINEES. THEREFORE,
WE COMMEND ALL THE FINALISTS:
     A. CDR FRANCES MASSALLE, CG AIRSTATION ELIZABETH CITY
     B. LT JULIO GONZALEZ, CG RECRUITING COMMAND
     C. LT COMMANDER K. MOORE, CG SECTOR NEW YORK
5. THE SELECTION PANEL MEMBERS FOR THIS AWARD WERE:
     A. CDR WILLIAM MAKELL
     B. CDR CAROL STUNDTNER
     C. MS. DONNA F. WALKER-ROSS
     D. LT ANTONIO DONIS
     E. CWO2 RACHAEL M. LEASK
6. POINT OF CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS CDR WILLIAM MAKELL,
ETHNIC POLICY ADVISOR, DIVERSITY STAFF AT (202) 475-5246.
7. RELEASED BY MR. CURTIS B. ODOM, DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.