ALCOAST 057/08
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: CAPT JOHN G. WITHERSPOON INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
RECIPIENT
A. ALCOAST 052/08
B. CANCEL REF. A
C. MEDALS AND AWARDS MANUAL, COMDTINST M1650.25 (SERIES)
1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT LCDR OLAV SABOE HAS BEEN SELECTED
AS THE WINNER OF THIS YEARS CAPT JOHN G. WITHERSPOON INSPIRATIONAL
LEADERSHIP AWARD. THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD RECOGNIZES A COAST GUARD
OFFICER WHO BEST EXEMPLIFIES THE COAST GUARD CORE VALUES OF HONOR,
RESPECT, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY.
2. LCDR SABOE IS THE ENGINEER OFFICER AT AIR STATION NEW ORLEANS
OVERSEEING A 74-MEMBER DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THE
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF FIVE HH-65C HELICOPTERS AT ONE OF THE
COAST GUARDS BUSIEST HELICOPTER SAR UNITS. HIS LEADERSHIP SKILLS
ENABLED THE UNIT TO SUCCESSFULLY RESPOND TO 354 SAR CASES, CONDUCT
28 MULTI-DAY SAR, LE, HLS, AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPLOYMENTS, AND
SUPPORT LANTAREAS FIRST LONG-RANGE OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT ABOARD A
270 WMEC.
3. UNIQUELY SKILLED AT GAINING BUY-IN AND COMMITMENT FROM HIS STAFF
ON A VARIETY OF INITIATIVES, HE ROUTINELY SOUGHT THEIR INPUT ON
PROJECTS AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS. THIS LEADERSHIP PRACTICE
CONFIRMS THE BELIEF THAT EACH MEMBER IN OUR ORGANIZATION HAS THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE ACTION AND CORRECT NOTED DISCREPANCIES IN
PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES. LCDR SABOE NOT ONLY RESOLVED LONG
STANDING ISSUES BUT ENCOURAGED AND DEVELOPED HIS WORK FORCE
CHALLENGING THEM TO BECOME PROBLEM SOLVERS.
4. THROUGH MENTORSHIP AND SUPPORT OF HIS PERSONNEL LCDR SABOE HAD
FIVE OUT OF NINE CPOS ADVANCED TO E-8,TWO E-6S ADVANCED TO CPO,
FOUR MEMBERS SELECTED FOR CG-SPONSORED ADVANCED EDUCATION PROGRAMS,
AND TWO JUNIOR OFFICERS SELECTED FOR THE AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING
OFFICER (AEO) PROGRAM. HE IS A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF COAST GUARD
LEADERSHIP AT ITS BEST.
5. I APPLAUD THE EFFORTS OF LCDR SABOE ALONG WITH THE WITHERSPOON
FINALISTS AND NOMINEES.  THROUGH THEIR COLLECTIVE ACTIONS THEY
DEMONSTRATE THAT OUR PEOPLE ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESSFUL
MISSION EXECUTION.  EACH YEAR IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SELECT
ONLY ONE RECIPIENT FROM THE SUPERB SLATE OF OFFICERS WHO ARE
NOMINATED FOR THIS AWARD. HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO THE FOLLOWING
FINALISTS:
 A. LT SCOTT C. TOVES, TACLET SOUTH
 B. LCDR CURTISS C. POTTER, CG PATFORSWA
 C. CDR WILLIAM G. KELLY, CGC SENECA
 D. LTJG JEREMY M. GREENWOOD, CGC DALLAS
6. THE SELECTION PANEL MEMBERS ARE LISTED BELOW:
 A. CAPT CHUCK MICHEL, COMDT (CG-094)
 B. CAPT EDWARD ENG, CG EXCHANGE SYSTEM
 C. CAPT LORI MATHIEU, COMDT (CG-11D)
 D. MR. PHIL THORNTON, COMDT (CG-132)
 E. MCPO DAVE BELISLE, TISCOM
7. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
PROGRAM AND PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CG-133 WEB
SITE, WWW.USCG.MIL/LEADERSHIP (UNDER INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP
AWARDS).
8. LCDR SABOE WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THE INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP
AWARDS PRESENTATION CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT CG HEADQUARTERS IN THE
NEAR FUTURE.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
10. ADM T. W. ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.