R 241729Z SEP 12

ALCOAST 424/12
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICE
AWARDS PROGRAM
1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE DHS CFO SIXTH ANNUAL AWARDS PROGRAM,
WHICH RECOGNIZES EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THE DHS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY. THE AWARDS PROGRAM WILL HONOR
EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE DELIVERED EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AND MADE SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTIONS TO DHS FINANCIAL SUCCESS AND PERFORMANCE DURING FY
2012. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES UP TO 18 AWARDS IN 6 CATEGORIES FOR
ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS.
2. ELIGIBILITY: DHS AND COMPONENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES,
INCLUDING THOSE FROM FIELD OFFICES AND FINANCIAL CENTERS, WHOSE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DHS MISSION MERIT RECOGNITION ARE ELIGIBLE TO
RECEIVE DHS CFO AWARDS.
3. NOMINATION PROCESS: ANY DHS EMPLOYEE MAY SUBMIT A NOMINATION BY
COMPLETING THE DHS AWARDS APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYEE ACHIEVEMENTS THAT
OCCURRED DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 2011 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2012. THE
APPLICATION AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE AWARD CATEGORIES CAN BE FOUND BY
GOING TO THE COMDT (CG-8R) PORTAL WEBSITE,
HTTPS://CGPORTAL.USCG.MIL/CTL/1K830S8
(MUST BE TYPED IN LOWER CASE).
4. AWARD CATEGORIES:
     A. THE CFO AWARD FOR SUPERIOR MISSION ACHIEVEMENT: 1 INDIVIDUAL
AND/OR GROUP AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING
CATEGORIES:
        (1) COMPTROLLERS AWARD: IMPROVING EFFICIENCY, DELIVERING
COST-SAVINGS, AND IMPLEMENTING REFORMS THAT IMPROVE FINANCIAL
OPERATIONS.
        (2) AUDITORS AWARD: CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPPORT ACHIEVEMENT OF A
CLEAN OPINION ON AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
        (3) KEYSTONE AWARD: ACHIEVEMENT IN STRENGTHENING INTERNAL
CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING, DHS OPERATIONS, AND MANAGEMENT.
        (4) SERVICE AWARD: ACHIEVEMENT IN PROVIDING ACCURATE, USEFUL,
AND TIMELY INFORMATION TO CUSTOMERS SUPPORTING THE DHS MISSION.
        (5) BUDGET, PLANNING, AND EVALUATION AWARD: ACHIEVEMENT IN
INTEGRATING STRATEGIC PLANNING, BUDGETING, AND EVALUATION, MAXIMIZING
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE, INFORMED DECISION MAKING, AND ACHIEVEMENT OF
THE DHS OCFO MISSION.
     B. THE CFO AWARD FOR EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE: THIS IS A SERIES OF
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS GIVEN TO RECOGNIZE EXEMPLARY MANAGEMENT,
SUPERVISORY, AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IN THE
FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
        (1) SENIOR EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT AWARD (1 AWARD) GS -14,
GS-15,
SES:EXCELS IN FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, LEADS BY EXAMPLE,
AND ENCOURAGES EFFICIENCY AND INNOVATION THROUGH COMMUNICATION,
LEADERSHIP, AND TEAMWORK.
        (2) SUPERVISORY AWARD (UP TO 3 AWARDS) GS-11, GS-12, GS-13:
FOSTERS PRIDE IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND EXCELS IN THE PROMOTION OF DHS
CORE VALUES AND THE CONTRIBUTION TO ACHIEVEMENT OF FINANCIAL PLANNING
AND PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT.
        (3) OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE AWARD (UP TO 3 AWARDS): ENCOURAGES
EFFICIENCY AND INNOVATION, TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS,
ADHERES TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF MORAL AND ETHICAL CONDUCT,
RESPECTS AND VALUES THE INHERENT DIGNITY OF EACH PERSON, FOSTERS
PRIDE IN PUBLIC SERVICE, AND EXCELS IN THEIR PARTICULAR OCCUPATIONAL
AREA.
     C. PARTNERSHIP AWARD: THIS AWARD IS GIVEN TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR
GROUP
OUTSIDE OF THE DHS FINANCIAL COMMUNITY IN RECOGNITION OF SUCCESSFUL
EFFORTS TO SUBSTANTIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF DHS CFO
PRIORITIES OR THE DHS MISSION.
     D. INGENUITY AND INNOVATION AWARD: THIS AWARD IS GIVEN TO AN
INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP FOR INNOVATION IN DEVELOPING AND/OR IMPLEMENTING
A NEW AND SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED WAY OF SUPPORTING THE DHS MISSION,
INCLUDING TECHNOLOGICAL MODERNIZATION.
     E. HERITAGE AWARD FOR CAREER ACHIEVEMENT: THIS AWARD IS GIVEN TO
AN INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS FOR BEING AN EXCELLENT STEWARD OF PUBLIC
FUNDS AND EXEMPLARY FINANCIAL MANAGER THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THEIR
FEDERAL CAREER BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL TO DHS.
     F. MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD: THIS AWARD RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING
SUBSTANTIAL AND DISTINGUISHED CONTRIBUTION BY NON-PROFESSIONAL STAFF
TO DHS OCFO AND ITS MISSION DURING THE YEAR.
5. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: NOMINATIONS SHALL BE SUBMITTED ON FORM
CG-5374, BY EMAIL TO SERENA SANCHEZ, COMDT (CG-8R), BY COB 15 OCTOBER
2012. THE PROPOSED CITATION BOX IN THE RECOMMENDATION FOR AWARD FOR
EXCELLENCE/CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION (CG-5374) MUST INCLUDE A CLEAR
AND CONCISE CITATION OF 15 WORDS OR LESS FOR EACH NOMINATION. THE
JUSTIFICATION BOX MAY BE NO MORE THAN A PAGE IN LENGTH. TEAM AWARDS
ARE LIMITED TO 20 EMPLOYEES.
6. IN ORDER TO MEET THE DHS SUBMISSION DEADLINE OF 22 OCTOBER, COMDT
(CG-8) WILL CONVENE A HQ PANEL TO EVALUATE THE COAST GUARD
NOMINATIONS TO THE DHS CFO AWARDS PROGRAM FOR 2012. THE PANEL WILL
MEET THE WEEK OF 15 OCTOBER. PERSONNEL INTERESTED IN SITTING ON THE
PANEL SHALL SUBMIT REQUESTS TO SERENA SANCHEZ BY 10 OCTOBER. AWARD
WINNERS AND THEIR COMMANDS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY MID-NOVEMBER.
7. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE THE TIME TO CONSIDER THESE AWARDS AND
NOMINATE DESERVING SHIPMATES. WHILE WE STILL HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO IN
OUR AUDIT READINESS EFFORTS, PEOPLE ACROSS THE COAST GUARD HAVE
EXPENDED TREMENDOUS TIME AND EFFORT IN GENERATING THE OUTSTANDING
RESULTS WE HAVE ACHIEVED TO DATE. HONOR OUR PROFESSION AND RESPECT
OUR SHIPMATES BY RECOGNIZING THOSE ACHIEVEMENTS WITH AN AWARD
NOMINATION.
8. THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THE DHS CFO AWARDS IS SERENA SANCHEZ
(202) 372-3603, SERENA.I.SANCHEZ(AT)USCG.MIL.
9. RDML S. P. METRUCK, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR RESOURCES/CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER, SENDS.
10. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.