NACON 2008 Coast Guard Awards

Awards

Mr. VANOSDOL is cited for meritorious service in the performance of duty as Deputy Director, International Affairs from October 2006 to August 2008. Mr. VANOSDOL provided invaluable hands-on managerial and administrative support to the Auxiliary International Affairs Directorate by ensuring the comprehensive and intricate coordination of several major programs and initiatives. He oversaw planning and execution of the Subject Matter Expert Exchange for the Jamaica Search and Rescue Organization (JASAR) and provided exceptional boating instructor training that prepared JASAR members to teach courses to the public. This helped establish JASAR as a model for other Caribbean nations to develop their own Auxiliary organizations and paralleled the programmatic zeal that he applied to mentor and counsel volunteers across the region. Mr. VANOSDOL’s keen supervision was instrumental to successful execution of the 2008 Caribbean Search-and-Rescue Conference in which more than 80 representatives from the United States, Caribbean and European nations participated. As part of this event, he provided an excellent workshop on various initiatives to reduce marine related accidents. Mr. VANOSDOL’s diplomatic prowess and amicable demeanor was key to the advancing of ties with various foreign search-and-rescue organizations in other areas of the world including the Philippines, Australia, and Europe. Notably in the Asia-Pacific region, Mr. VANOSDOL provided detailed and comprehensive advice to his volunteer counterparts that effectively launched the Pacific version of the Caribbean initiative to greatly enhance safety of life at sea for these nations. Mr. VANOSDOL’s dedication and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.