ALCOAST 148/09
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: COMO CHARLES S. GREANOFF INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
RECIPIENT
1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MR. KIM CASTROBRAN, FLOTILLA
COMMANDER (FC) OF D11 SOUTHERN AUXILIARY REGION PHOENIX ARIZONA
FLOTILLA 35, HAS BEEN SELECTED AS THE WINNER OF THIS
YEARS COMO CHARLES S. GREANOFF INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD. THIS
AWARD SERVES TO RECOGNIZE THE MOST DISTINGUISHED AUXILIARY FLOTILLA
COMMANDER AND PARALLELS OUR EXISTING INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP
AWARDS FOR OFFICERS, CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS (E-7), AND CIVILIANS.
2. MR. CASTROBRAN TRANSFERRED INTO FLOTILLA 35 IN 2006 WITH A
PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO RECONSTRUCTING AND DEVELOPING THIS 50 YEAR-
OLD FLOTILLA THAT WAS ON THE BRINK OF DISESTABLISHMENT DUE TO LOW
MEMBERSHIP AND ACTIVITY LEVELS. QUICKLY ADVANCING TO THE FLOTILLA
COMMANDER OFFICE IN 2007, MR. CASTROBRAN DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING
LEADERSHIP THROUGH SUPERB MENTORING AND MOTIVATION OF EVERY MEMBER
OF THE FLOTILLA. HE CREATED THE FIRST FLOTILLA 35 WEB SITE AND A
NEW FLOTILLA NEWS LETTER. HE ALSO CREATED TWO WEB SITES FOR POINT
VICENTE AND POINT HUENEME LIGHTHOUSES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE BONDS
BETWEEN THE LOCAL COAST GUARD AND AUXILIARY UNITS.
3. MR. CASTROBRANS RECONSTRUCTION STRATEGY CENTERED ABOUT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A (CAN DO ATTITUDE) THAT TAPPED INTO THE
STRENGTHS OF FLOTILLA MEMBERS WHILE RECRUITING AND DEVELOPING NEW
MEMBERS. HE PLANNED AND COORDINATED RECRUITMENT DRIVES THROUGH A
DIVERSE RANGE OF COMMUNITY VENUES AND THE FLOTILLA WEB SITE.  HIS
DETERMINATION AND TENACITY YIELDED A 200 PERCENT INCREASE IN
FLOTILLA MEMBERSHIP WITH SEVERAL MORE PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS CURRENTLY
PROCESSED FOR ENROLLMENT.
4. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF MR. CASTROBRANS ENERGETIC LEADERSHIP,
FLOTILLA 35 HAS EXPERIENCED AN UNPARALLELED REJUVENATION
CHARACTERIZED BY REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT. ITS AUXILIARISTS HAVE
SUBSEQUENTLY QUALIFIED AS BOAT CREW COXSWAINS, VESSEL EXAMINERS,
AND MEMBERS OF THE AUXILIARY INTERPRETER CORPS. MOREOVER, FLOTILLA
ANNUAL ACTIVITY LEVELS EXCEEDED 7,000 HOURS, MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT
OF ANY OTHER FLOTILLA IN THE DIVISION. THIS CONTRIBUTED TO
FLOTILLA 35 EARNING SEVERAL REGIONAL AWARDS FOR OPERATIONAL
SUPPORT, MEMBER TRAINING, AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AS WELL AS THE
PRESTIGIOUS (SMALL UNIT AWARD) FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR COAST GUARD
HISTORY IN OCTOBER 2008, THE FIRST TIME AN AUXILIARY UNIT HAS
RECEIVED THIS AWARD.
5. EACH YEAR IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SELECT ONLY ONE
RECIPIENT FROM THE SUPERB SLATE OF AUXILIARISTS WHO WERE NOMINATED
FOR THIS AWARD. HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO THE FOLLOWING
FINALISTS:
 A. MR. DAVID JOHNSEN  DISTRICT 9, FLOTILLA 095-05-17
 B. MR. LANE DELKER  DISTRICT  9, FLOTILLA 092-08-01
6. THE SELECTION PANEL MEMBERS ARE LISTED BELOW:
 A. CAPT EKUNDAYO FAUX, COMDT (CG-85)
 B. MR. ROBERT BIRRANE, USCG AUXILIARY
 C. MCPO WARREN BENSON, COMDT (CG-12A)
7. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
PROGRAM AND PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE COMDT
(CG-133) WEB SITE AT WWW.USCG.MIL/LEADERSHIP (UNDER INSPIRATIONAL
LEADERSHIP AWARDS).
8. MR. CASTROBRAN WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THE INSPIRATIONAL
LEADERSHIP AWARDS PRESENTATION CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT CG
HEADQUARTERS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
9. ADM T. W. ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
10. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.