R 021718Z JUL 09 

SUBJ: 2009 BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT (BIG) CIVILIAN AND MILITARY
MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
A. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY MANUAL, COMDTINST 5350.4(SERIES)
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 211238Z MAY 09/ALCOAST 309/09
1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT LCDR WILBORNE WATSON OF
CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS AND MS. GAIL JACKSON OF THE OFFICE OF BUDGET
DEVELOPMENT, DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR OPERATIONS, ARE THE RECIPIENTS
OF THE 2009 BIG MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD.  REF A OUTLINES THE
CRITERIA FOR THIS AWARD.
2. LCDR WATSON HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF BY DEVELOPING THE
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCU) AMBASSADORS
INITIATIVE, WHICH HOSTS 25 OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THE NATION TO SERVE
AS COAST GUARD AMBASSADORS TO THEIR ALMA MATERS, WITH A PARTICULAR
FOCUS ON THOSE INSTITUTIONS WITH ACCREDITED SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING AND MATH (STEM) PROGRAMS.  HE VOLUNTEERS AS A MENTOR TO
STUDENTS AT LEMOYNE OWEN COLLEGE AS A PART OF THEIR BLACK EXECUTIVE
EXCHANGE PROGRAM (BEEP) WHICH LINKS TALENTED COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH
PROFESSIONAL OF ALL BACKGROUNDS.  HE HAS CONDUCTED SEVERAL
PRESENTATIONS TO OVER 150 COLLEGE STUDENTS AT JACKSON STATE
UNIVERSITY, ALABAMA A AND M AND LEMOYNE OWEN COLLEGE, ON THE
MISSIONS OF THE COAST GUARD, HIS EXPERIENCES AS AN OFFICER, AND THE
BENEFITS OF A COAST GUARD CAREER.  LCDR WATSON IS A SELFLESS LEADER
WHO GIVES OF HIS TIME AND TALENT UNSOLICITED, OUTSIDE HIS REQUIRED
DUTIES, TO IMPROVE THE PROFESSIONAL LIVES OF OTHERS AND TO SUPPORT
DIVERSITY GOALS OF THE COAST GUARD.
3. MS. JACKSON HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF BIG SINCE 2002 AND HAS
HELD SEVERAL CHAPTER AND REGIONAL POSITIONS.  CURRENTLY, SHE SERVES
AS THE COAST GUARD CHAPTER PRESIDENT AND CONTINUALLY PROMOTES THE
GOALS AND MISSIONS OF BIG IN AN EXCEPTIONAL MANNER.  TODAY, WITH
OVER 110 MEMBERS, THE COAST GUARD CHAPTER IS THE LARGEST IN ITS
REGION.  ADDITIONALLY, MS. JACKSON VOLUNTEERS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
OF TIME TO THE CENTRAL UNION MISSION IN WASHINGTON, DC AND THE
COAST GUARDS PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION (PIE) PROGRAM AT AMIDON
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.  THIS PROGRAM ENCOURAGES PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS
WITH SCHOOLS TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND CAREER
AWARENESS FOR STUDENTS.  MS. JACKSON HAS A SELFLESS COMMITMENT TO
THE LESS FORTUNATE AND WORKING HARD FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OTHERS
AND HER COMMUNITY.  SHE HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED HER ABILITIES
AS A LEADER, MENTOR AND ROLE MODEL WITHIN BIG AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
4. THE BLACKS IN GOVERNMENT MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD WILL BE
PRESENTED TO LCDR WATSON AND MS. JACKSON AT THE BIG 31ST NATIONAL
TRAINING CONFERENCE IN BALTIMORE, MD ON 28 AUGUST 2009.  DETAILS
REGARDING THE CONFERENCE CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.BIGNET.ORG.
5. CAPT E. G. FAUX, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.