LETTERS TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF

THE AUXILIARY COMMANDANT LETTER OF COMMENDATION

To:      Mr. Melvyn A. Borofsky, USCG Auxiliary

Subj:   LETTER OF COMMENDATION

1. I note with pride and am pleased to commend you for your performance of duty while serving as Secretary and Public Affairs Reporter for “Navigator” magazine and the “SITREP” e-magazine from June 2005 to July 2006.  Demonstrating exceptional dedication and professional expertise, you provided invaluable media support to the Caribbean Search and Rescue  Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in June 2005 and the Caribbean Volunteer Maritime Search and Rescue Conference (CSAR) in Miami, Florida in June 2006.  Both of these international events were attended by dozens of Caribbean and European representatives.  Despite limited spoken English by many participants, you effectively captured all salient discussion points, transposed them into Minutes, and created invaluable historical records for future SMEE and CSAR efforts.  Displaying remarkable initiative, you assembled all presentations, breakout session summaries, attendee rosters, and the Minutes for both events into comprehensive CD packages for every attendee.  Immediately following each event, you posted summary articles and photographs to “SITREP” and provided similar products for publication in “Navigator.”
2. You are commended for your outstanding performance of duty.  By your meritorious service, you have upheld the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
3. You are hereby authorized to wear the Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon Bar (gold star in lieu of a second).

For the Commandant,

B.P. SMITH
Captain, U.S Coast Guard
Chief, Office of Auxiliary

To:      Mr. Joseph P. Cirone, USCG Auxiliary

Subj:   LETTER OF COMMENDATION

1. I note with pride and am pleased to commend you for your performance of duty while serving as Assistant Chief, External Communications Division  from August 2005 to September 2006.  Demonstrating exceptional leadership and professional skill, you compiled the Coast to Coast publication, a unique periodical of published Auxiliary articles.  By composing 68 press releases and feature articles, coupled with your personal contribution of over 165 photographic images, you established the core of a remarkable historical and visual image library of Coast Guard and Auxiliary activities and people.  Your inspirational vision and diligent execution have yielded the compilation of over 200 feature stories from across a wide variety of media that has comprehensively advanced the Auxiliary story among America’s boating public. 
2. You are commended for your outstanding performance of duty.  By your meritorious service, you have upheld the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
3. You are hereby authorized to wear the Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon Bar.

For the Commandant,

B.P. SMITH
Captain, U.S Coast Guard
Chief, Office of Auxiliary

To:      Mr. Robert J. Dennis, USCG Auxiliary

Subj:   LETTER OF COMMENDATION

1. I note with pride and am pleased to commend you for your performance of duty while serving as Chief, Photography Branch from January 2005 to September 2006.  Displaying remarkable initiative and team spirit, you established close working ties with the Coast Guard Headquarters Imagery Division to develop unprecedented synergy and create joint projects between active duty and Auxiliary photography programs.  Your diligence and determination paved the way for the Auxiliary Photo Corps to make hundreds of dazzling contributions to the Coast Guard’s Visual Imagery site as well as the Auxiliary’s Imagery library, significantly broadening the range of visual images available for media use.   With similar zeal and skill, you expertly guided the Auxiliary Photo of the Week program and oversaw review and acquisition of over 200 photos that were applied to the new 13th edition of the Boating Skills and Seamanship textbook. 
2. You are commended for your outstanding performance of duty.  By your meritorious service, you have upheld the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
3. You are hereby authorized to wear the Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon Bar.

For the Commandant,

B. P. SMITH
Captain, U.S Coast Guard
Chief, Office of Auxiliary

To:      Mr. Bruce M. Dyleski, USCG Auxiliary

Subj:   LETTER OF COMMENDATION

1. I note with pride and am pleased to commend you for your performance of duty while serving as Chief, Training Branch from February 2005 to September 2006.  As the Public Affairs program’s C-school coordinator and instructor, you were instrumental to the successful development and execution of four formal training schools, each located in different parts of the nation, along with the graduation of over 90 new Auxiliary public affairs officers.  With keen organizational skill, you oversaw syllabus development, school site preparation, and student enrollments and travel.  Exhibiting superb technical prowess and cooperative spirit, you composed a fully-illustrated and comprehensive school curriculum and worked closely with the Coast Guard Office of Public Affairs to ensure close alignment with the service’s program objectives.  As a result of your diligence and devotion to duty, the Auxiliary public affairs program fielded its most proficient and capable cadre of officers to ever fulfill outreach responsibilities with America’s recreational boating public. 
2. You are commended for your outstanding performance of duty.  By your meritorious service, you have upheld the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.  
3. You are hereby authorized to wear the Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon Bar.

For the Commandant, 

B. P. SMITH
Captain, U.S Coast Guard
Chief, Office of Auxiliary

To:      Ms. Roxane H. Firmin, USCG Auxiliary

Subj:   LETTER OF COMMENDATION

1. I note with pride and am pleased to commend you for your performance of duty while serving as Chief, Imagery and Multimedia Division from September 2005 to September 2006.  Demonstrating outstanding initiative and professional diplomacy, you established an unprecedented rapport with the Coast Guard Headquarters visual imagery staff to explore and develop beneficial joint endeavors including the cost-effective video-taping of the Commandant’s Change of Command by an Auxiliary video team.   With unparalleled videography skills, you worked closely with other national staff and Coast Guard program representatives to create an entertaining and informative newsreel that kept Auxiliarists aware of special service news and events.  Your careful supervision and mentoring of the Auxiliary Photo Corps yielded hundreds of dazzling contributions to the Coast Guard’s Visual Imagery site as well as the Auxiliary’s Imagery library, significantly broadening the range of visual images available for media use.    
2. You are commended for your outstanding performance of duty.  By your meritorious service, you have upheld the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.  
3. You are hereby authorized to wear the Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon Bar.

For the Commandant,

B. P. SMITH
Captain, U.S Coast Guard
Chief, Office of Auxiliary

To:      Mr. Henry Foglino, USCG Auxiliary

Subj:   LETTER OF COMMENDATION

1. I note with pride and am pleased to commend you for your performance of duty while serving as Chief, Course Management Division from January 2005 to August 2006.  Demonstrating superior leadership and professional competence, you supervised the major revision of the Auxiliary’s flagship public education boating safety textbook, the Boating Skills & Seamanship manual.  Spending countless hours by phone and e-mail to contact and coordinate with many boat and boat accessory manufacturers, you thoroughly researched hundreds of sources and obtained appropriate authorizations to use effective visual images in the revision.  Your dogged persistence ensured that only professional, high quality color images were included in the manual, and you made sure that the most up-to-date information on marine radio communications, weather, and vessel propulsion was included for the benefit of all students.  As a direct result of your steadfast determination, the manual was completed on-time and with utmost care and quality. 
2. You are commended for your outstanding performance of duty.  By your meritorious service, you have upheld the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.  
3. You are hereby authorized to wear the Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon Bar.

For the Commandant,

B. P. SMITH
Captain, U.S Coast Guard
Chief, Office of Auxiliary

To:      Mr. Anthony A. Lorenc, USCG Auxiliary

Subj:   LETTER OF COMMENDATION

1. I note with pride and am pleased to commend you for your performance of duty while serving as Chief, States Division from February 2004 to April 2006.  Faced with the daunting challenge of having only a small cadre of regional staff officers and a depleted staff of branch chiefs to work with, you provided superb leadership and personal support to improve the professionalism and capabilities of the State Liaison Office.  By skillfully employing available resources, consulting with State Liaison Officers, and applying remarkable professional insight, you created the first-ever State Liaison Office Qualification Guide and associated testing instruments.  Your exemplary enthusiasm and teamwork were crucial to the timely resolution of a number of major joint recreational boating safety initiatives between the Auxiliary and several States as well as the completion of numerous data gathering projects in support of Auxiliary and State public education programs across the nation. 
2. You are commended for your outstanding performance of duty.  By your meritorious service, you have upheld the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.  
3. You are hereby authorized to wear the Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon Bar.

For the Commandant,

B. P. SMITH
Captain, U.S Coast Guard
Chief, Office of Auxiliary

To:      Mr. Robert A. Melvin, III, USCG Auxiliary

Subj:   LETTER OF COMMENDATION

1. I note with pride and am pleased to commend you for your performance of duty while serving as Deputy Chief, Department of Boating from October 2004 to March 2006.  Demonstrating exceptional commitment and managerial expertise, you effectively handled the additional responsibilities of Chief of the Liaison Division during a lengthy search for a new Division Chief, and led it to outstanding achievements despite your regular extensive workload.   As a direct result of your vision and determination, the Liaison Division established partnerships with several organizations that significantly augmented the Auxiliary’s role in maritime homeland security.  Boaters World, West Marine, BoatUS, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers enthusiastically responded to your reasoned and diplomatic overtures to invite their involvement.  With exemplary enthusiasm, you also deftly handled the myriad logistical challenges to ensure that Auxiliary National Displays were strategically deployed from the Auxiliary Center each year.  Your attention to detail and demands for timely deliveries ensured that Auxiliary missions and capabilities were showcased at many major national boating safety events.    
2. You are commended for your outstanding performance of duty.  By your meritorious service, you have upheld the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
3. You are hereby authorized to wear the Auxiliary Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon Bar.

For the Commandant,

B. P. SMITH
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard
Chief, Office of Auxiliary

To:      Mr. Robert T. Westcott, USCG Auxiliary

Subj:   LETTER OF COMMENDATION

1. I note with pride and am pleased to commend you for your performance of duty while serving as Chief, External Communications Division and as Chief, National Press Corps Branch from January 2005 to September 2006. Through detailed planning and diligent execution, you guided the Auxiliary’s internal publications and external communications programs to remarkable achievements.  Your exceptional leadership skills were instrumental to the organization of Auxiliary Public Affairs Staff Officers into a cohesive corps that turned relevant stories into valuable press releases to enhance the Auxiliary’s profile in the eyes of the American public.   As the Auxiliary reporter assigned to cover Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita relief efforts, the 2005 National Conference, and the 2006 National Training Conference, you meticulously collected information and cleared sources resulting in timely presentation of comprehensive and captivating accounts of these significant events.  Displaying superb writing and photography skills, you also authored a dozen feature articles for The Navigator and the Auxiliary’s e–magazine, SITREP.
2. You are commended for your outstanding performance of duty.  By your meritorious service, you have upheld the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
3. You are hereby authorized to wear the Auxiliary Commandant’s letter of Commendation Ribbon Bar.

For the Commandant,

B. P. SMITH
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard
Chief, Office of Auxiliary