Coast Guard leaders and distinguished guests joined together Friday to recognize and honor 23 exceptional enlisted members at the 18th annual First District Enlisted Person of the Year award luncheon at Coast Guard Base Boston.
The winners are Active Duty Petty Officer 3rd Class Brett Reel, from the International Ice Patrol in New London, Connecticut, and Reserve Petty Officer 1st Class Julia-Ann Scotton, from Coast Guard Sector Boston.
The EPOY nomination is reserved exclusively for enlisted personnel who sustain high standards of excellence and professionalism. Nominees reflect the spirit of pride, professionalism, and dedication. Each demonstrated exceptional performance throughout the year in areas such as leadership, technical proficiency, personal and work ethics, Coast Guard knowledge, uniform appearance, and military bearing.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance were Rear Adm. Linda Fagan, First District commander, and Master Chief Petty Officer Dale Steinmetz, the First District command master chief and senior-most enlisted member in the district.
“This year’s selection board faced a difficult challenge in selecting from a field of many high achieving and deserving candidates,” said Fagan. “All the nominees were recommended because they exemplify the Coast Guard’s core values and my Commander’s Priorities of service, duty, and excellence.”
Active duty nominees were:
Petty Officer 1st Class Logan Adkisson, Coast Guard Cutter Penobscot Bay, Bayonne, New Jersey
Petty Officer 1st Class John Lowell, Coast Guard Station Jones Beach, New York
Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Monaghan, Maritime Safety and Security Team Boston
Petty Officer 1st Class Devon Smith, Coast Guard Station Gloucester, Massachusetts
Petty Officer 1st Class Mathew Pastore, Coast Guard Base Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Petty Officer 1st Class Vaitia De La Rosa, Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England
Petty Officer 3rd Class David Turay, Electronic Systems Support Detachment, Boston
Petty Officer 1st Class Nirel Etchart, Coast Guard Sector Northern New England
Petty Officer 3rd Class David Craig Oravitz, Maritime Safety and Security Team New York
Petty Officer 1st Class Stephan Krumfolz, North East Regional Fishery Training Center
Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Schmitz, Coast Guard Port Security Unit 301, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Petty Officer 2nd Class David Christopher DuPont, Coast Guard Cutter Seneca, Boston
Petty Officer 1st Class Za’Quawn Brown, Coast Guard Cutter Spencer, Boston
Petty Officer 1st Class Alicia Reader, Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut
Petty Officer 3rd Class David Eric Bereveskos, Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Reserve nominees were:
Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathon Zocchia, Port Security Unit 301 Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Petty Officer 1st Class Margaret Connolly, Coast Guard Base Boston
Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Gallagher, Coast Guard Station Eatons Neck, New York
Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Genao, Coast Guard Station New York
Petty Officer 2nd Class Danielle Haag, Coast Guard Station Castle Hill, Rhode Island
Petty Officer 2nd Class LaNola Stone, First Coast Guard District External Affairs, Boston
Reel and Scotton will go on to compete against EPOY selectees from other districts throughout the country, and the commandant of the Coast Guard will ultimately select only one active and one reserve EPOY. The national winners will be meritoriously advanced to the next higher pay grade, be considered for a Commendation Medal, and their names will be inscribed on a perpetual plaque maintained at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
