COMMODORE CHARLES G. MORRIS

1. Commodore Charles G. (Tony) Morris served as the National Directorate Commodore – Member Services during the period November 2002 to September 2004. During this period, Commodore Morris exhibited foresight, leadership and management skills in directing the efforts of the three key departments within the Directorate: Public Affairs, Member Training and Personnel Services. During this period he demonstrated exceptional support to the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary’s membership.

2. Through his guidance and coordination he fostered growth in Auxiliary Membership through a specific focus on “targeted recruiting” for both traditional and non-traditional missions, not only to increase the overall Auxiliary’s membership but to increase diversity within Auxiliary ranks as it pertain to particular skill sets and competencies in an effort to meet the expanding needs of the Coast Guard.

3. Furthermore he understood the importance of improving communication within the Coast Guard Auxiliary, both internally and externally. Commodore Morris worked with Coast Guard Headquarter Staff to develop , the AUX-12 “C” School for Public Affairs Officers, designed to improve the professional skills of our Public Affairs Staff Officers. He and his staff initiated the Aux eNews bi-weekly e-mail newsletter as a significant first step to improve internal communications within the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

4. Commodore Morris saw a definite need to improve and expand member training to the Auxiliary membership. In response to member requests, Commodore Morris and his staff created a health and safety division and expanded health and safety training to the Auxiliary membership. Furthermore, in conjunction with his Member Training Department, he urged greater flexibility in the ways that member training is offered (both classroom training and eLearning) to meet the needs of a very diverse membership. Commodore Morris directed his staff to more closely align our specialty training with Coast Guard training in an effort to meet the expectations of the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary membership. Furthermore, he expanded Auxiliary Leadership Training to include a staff officer leadership course.

5. Commodore Morris expertise and professional credentials were instrumental at the Coast Guard Training Summit in stressing the importance to all attendees that the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary needed to begin offering “value added” specialty training that meets individual and organizational needs. Furthermore, Commodore Morris provided his services to the Coast Guard Leadership development Center as an instructor for the Coast Guard Leadership Principles and Skills course. Likewise, he participated in the planning of and as an instructor for the O-7/SES Leadership Course at the Coast Guard Academy. Lastly, he served as a member of the Coast Guard’s Study Group- “Unit Leadership Development Program Project”.