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At Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, Sandra Borden is involved with the total revamping of how America handles ship traffic in its major ports. Labeled Vessel Traffic Service 2000, the system being developed in major ports and inland waterways is designed to facilitate the safe and efficient transit of vessels in order to prevent collisions and groundings. When youre about to revamp the way traffic is handled in 17 ports across the country, you get a lot of peoples attention real fast, Borden said. Everyone needs to make sure that their interests are not being overlooked. And we spent a lot of time with all of them to ensure their concerns were addressed. It is the variety in her work that helps keep her enthusiasm level high; that and the blend of personalities she deals with ranging from her supervisor, CAPT Chris Kreiler, to the myriad of contractors and consultants. Im very fortunate, she said. The captain and I work as partners. We work toward accomplishing a mammoth task. We must oversee lots of people who dont directly report to us. These include contractors, systems engineers and a whole bunch of people who have very unique abilities. Some 40 miles north of where Borden is overseeing complex computer systems, Warren Crough is busy doing what he does best - building cutters at the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Md. Hes good at it, partly because hes had 35 years to practice his skill - and partly because he was born with an ability to make things with his hands. He began in 1958 as a shipfitter apprentice. Today he is a ship-fitter foreman. Ive seen a lot of ships begin with a design on paper and wind up taking to the seas, he said. Theres a good feeling to that. Theres nothing quite like it. One of Croughs proudest accomplishments is the work he and his colleagues did on repairing major damage done to the Coast Guard training cutter Eagle. A collision caved in the bowsprit of the 309-foot, three-masted cutter. It was an ugly assault on one of the worlds most beautiful tall ships. Whenever I see pictures of her under sail, I look at that bowsprit and I can say to myself I made that, he said. Not too many people have the chance to take pride in something like that. It would take the Eagle three days to sail from Curtis Bay to Frank Shuberts pride and joy - the Coney Island Lighthouse in New York. It stands as a warm, blinking glow to mariners, helping them guide ships and boats into the New York harbor area. Shubert has been manning the lighthouse for 33 years. At age 78, he is the last of the Coast Guards lighthouse keepers and one of the services most venerated symbols. Step one foot onto the grounds and evidence of his diligent stewardship envelopes you like his firm and friendly handshake. Shubert asked for the Coney Island assignment in 1960 because it allowed him to live with his family in the keepers house next to the lighthouse. Indeed, tending the lighthouse became a family affair for Shubert, his wife, and their three children. He recalls fondly the afternoons that shivering young boaters sat in his kitchen after their vessels sank during sudden squalls on the harbor. His wife wrapped them in blankets and brewed hot chocolate, while his children scurried about with excitement. Keeping a lookout over New York Harbor, Shubert has seen a lot during his time at Coney Island Lighthouse. He bills it as one of, or possibly the best job in the world. Down river, Nick Mpras looks at maritime traffic from a different perspective. He deals with problems that naturally come with bridge administration. There are conflicting needs between land transportation and marine transportation, and between environmental organizations and developers. Bridges, while they aid land traffic, are an obstruction to marine traffic. And bridges constructed to support new development bring with them a host of sensitive environmental and economic issues for the local area. Mpras, a program manager at headquarters for bridge administration, and his staff of 16 civilians focus on the big picture. Most people know about taking care of bridges and may even have an idea of the balance between meeting the needs of marine and road traffic, said Mpras. But few think about whats involved in the decision to build a bridge. A bridge can change the synergy of an area forever. With many of the nations bridges built shortly after the turn of the century, its a constant challenge to be able to keep large, modern, vessel traffic moving up the nations waterways. Between the potential for new bridges and the need to upgrade and modernize existing ones, Charlene Hudson, who works for Mpras, has her work cut out for her. She worked in the 2nd District as an information specialist. Now shes an environmental-protection specialist at headquarters, dealing with federal, state, and local regulations in approving bridge permits and assessing environmental impact. Along with Mpras and Hudson, Kirti Pancholis job involves bridge administration. Joining the civilian arm of the Coast Guard in 1991, Pancholi has been serving as project engineer in charge of design and construction of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge in Hannibal, Mo., as well as the Florida Avenue Railroad/Highway Bridge in New Orleans, La. Comparing his current job with others he has held, Pancholi said, I have worked internationally and find this a very good place to be. I enjoy the people, and I enjoy seeing bridges go from design to reality. There are designers of a different sort just down the hall at headquarters. They are seated around a conference table in a boardroom setting. Theres only one uniform. It is worn by RADM James M. Loy, chief of the Office of Personnel and Training at headquarters. He shares the conference table with the Coast Guards top civilian executives - members of the Senior Executive Service. They have much in common -- flag officer rank and responsibility for translating national agenda, agency policy and Coast Guard missions into programs that serve the public. That is to say, they are paid to look at the big picture. Their titles tell the story of the diversity of activities for which the Coast Guard relies on their leadership and expertise. They include Joseph Angelo, associate program director for international activities, program oversight, and research and development; Thomas Fisher, chief of civilian personnel; Walter Somerville, chief of the Office of Civil Rights; Rue Helsel, deputy chief counsel; Martin Reubens, deputy chief of strategic planning staff; William Campbell, director of finance and procurement; Gerard Yoest, international affairs director and foreign policy advisor; Daniel Sheehan, director of the National Pollution Funds Center and Norm Lemley, director of the oil pollution prevention staff. And the big picture involves more than what people traditionally think of as Coast Guard missions - national security, law enforcement, maritime safety and environmental protection. The Coast Guard has a strong role representing the United States in the international arena as well. The Coast Guard heads U.S. delegations to organizations such as the International Maritime Organization, the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities and the International Lifeboat Conference, Yoest said. Negotiations can be extremely difficult, as well as very political and high-level. For example, a recent delegation to the IMO assembly, headed by the commandant and comprised of military and civilian members, secured a resolution on alien smuggling which was used as a basis for further action at the U.N. in New York, he said. Whether in a boardroom setting, developing strategic plans, or representing the Coast Guard at top-level conferences, members of the Senior Executive Service influence and shape not only the Coast Guards future but play a leading role in the management of current policies and programs. Neal Thayer works about as far away from a boardroom as you can get. As oceanographic liaison officer in Seattle, Wash., he is in charge of executing polar missions. His efforts center around the Coast Guard icebreakers Polar Star and Polar Sea. Thayer helps plan scientific expeditions by acting as a link between the scientific community and the Coast Guard. He also oversees the return of equipment from recent missions; checks out cargo from numerous sources and fits it into upcoming missions; monitors the retrieval of satellite weather images; communicates with scientists and the Coast Guard to keep each aware of mission progress; and serves as an all-around logistical wizard. The Coast Guard depends on me, he said. I feel important here. I get lots of support from the organization. They know that my position requires specialization and continuity. Corporate knowledge is important. The Coast Guard knows all this. Thats why they hire civilians. On their journeys north, Thayers ships slip past the coast where Frank Madison is busy taking care of one of this countrys most spectacular environments. A senior environmental specialist for Civil Engineering Unit Juneau, Alaska, Madison is known as the toxic avenger. Hes a potent adversary for whatever poisons may endanger the pristine region. While living in Washington state, he picked up a degree in education and engineering and headed to Alaska. In 1988, he accepted the job he now holds. Basically I investigate and clean up environmental problems around the state, said Madison. The first thing they let me tackle was abandoned chemical drums and fuel-storage tanks left at various military bases. One of the toughest jobs, though, was on Kodiak Island. We found a mixture of 18 leaking fuel tanks and abandoned polychlorinated biphenyl transformer poles. It was 70 degrees below zero. But in 40 days of extreme winter, we loaded 330,000 gallons of fuel and sent them to a treatment facility in Washington state. His efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 1991 he received an outstanding-performance award for his contributions to Coast Guard civil engineering. He is also the recipient of the 1990 Society of Military Engineers John B. Oren Medal for his performance in dealing with hazardous substances. Madison has had close and personal experiences with dangerous substances. In October 1992, the abandoned lighthouse at Cape Decision, Alaska, caught fire. Nearby were storage tanks containing polychlorinated biphenyl. Should they ignite, deadly carcinogens would be released into the atmosphere. He and a colleague had to be lowered in baskets dangling from helicopters. Disaster was averted and the grizzly bear trailing the two men lost interest once the excitement died down. Being pro-active is how Denise Burroughs handles problems in paradise. As the 14th Districts family-programs administrator in Honolulu, Burroughs helps members deal with the stresses of civilian and military life. Her daily calendar is a ledger in dealing with the harsher aspects of life: suicide prevention, financial counseling, divorce mediations and family violence. Shes noted for a unique ability to show people the reality of their situation and then gently but firmly help them deal with it. Her family-advocacy program has been used as a prototype for other units to follow. If youre in the middle of a custody battle for your 5-year-old, or breaking up with your girlfriend, it can be tough to give whats demanded of you to the Coast Guard, she said. By making you well, we make the Coast Guard well, happy and operable. Maxine Lum, a secretary in the 14th District, may be one of the Coast Guards most decorated civilians. During her 34 years with the federal government, 27 of which have been with the Coast Guard, she has received 28 outstanding-performance ratings and 16 special-achievement awards. As secretary to the district commander, Lum continues to be highly recognized for her professionalism and personal initiative. Like many secretaries, she provides both continuity and administrative support for her organization. She developed a secretarial handbook that greatly improved the quality of correspondence prepared throughout the district. In addition to managing the office, Lum said, I also enjoy seeing a project from start to finish. For instance it could be an admirals reception. I like to plan it and to see it get off the ground. Back on the mainland at the Aircraft Repair and Supply Center in Elizabeth City, N.C., getting things off the ground has a more literal meaning for Rodney Lawrence. He is an aircraft sheet-METAl-mechanic foreman in the Overhaul Branch at the AirRep & SupCen. He and his colleagues are charged with keeping the aircraft of the Coast Guard in the air. That means bringing special talents to unique problems in repairing aircraft. Coast Guard planes hang near the sea, that means corrosion problems, said Lawrence. We can do it all here. Whatever it takes to keep them flying. As Lawrence talks, the air around him vibrates from propellers and jet engines. Its a place where constant activity is the norm. Like Lawrence, Mazline Turner is accustomed to the flurry of activity at the center. And getting the work done is Turners primary focus. She is an aircraft-mechanics part-repairer leader working alongside Lawrence. It may not have been very long ago that the world of aircraft mechanics belonged to men. But when Turner is in the shop, shes not just one of the guys, she is a shop leader. Turner is in charge of overhauling hydraulic components for various aircraft such as helicopters and Guardian jets. When I first got to this shop, people from the outside would come in and see me with tools and do a double take, said Turner. And being a shop leader drew even more attention. Everyone here is used to it now, she said. They all know Im out here doing good work, doing my job. Turner notes that nowadays, there are more women working in these types of jobs. I feel very fortunate, she said. I learned through on-the-job training and by going to many Coast Guard schools. The Coast Guard has been generous in allowing me to upgrade my skills. Kathleen Woodall also took advantage of upgrading her skills and on-the-job training. Shes the boss at the Coast Guard Exchange in Mayport, Fla., where shes been working as retail manager for the past 15 years. As one of almost 2,000 of the Coast Guards non-appropriated fund activity employees, she earns her keep in more ways than one since the monies for her position, and for the very operation of the store itself, depend on sales. Like other military services, the Coast Guard uses NAFA programs to support and strengthen family and social ties of its military members. Those employees run Coast Guard clubs, recreational facilities, exchanges, grocery stores and child-care centers. Since these types of operations are not funded through Congress, it is up to Woodall and her 12 employees at the exchange to make the profit margin healthy enough to keep things going and still provide quality service. We have to earn everything to keep things going, she said. And the Coast Guard personnel who make up our customers are our best sales force. They let us know what they want to see in the store and we make sure we get it. Ed Henrys customers have very different needs. He is one of the first called when a natural disaster strikes. Located on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif., Henry is a regional emergency- transportation representative. He has coordinated transportation needs for recovery efforts of five major disasters that hit the United States in the past year - Hurricanes Omar, Andrew and Iniki; and Typhoons Gay and Brian. He led the Department of Transportation team at the disaster-relief command centers during these relief efforts. It is a job whose duties take him whichever way heavy winds blow. The first disaster I ever worked was in American Samoa, he said. Getting off the plane in Pago Pago, American Samoa, was a bit of a shock. From there I went to Miami to work Hurricane Andrew. That was a physical and emotional disaster as well as a political one. We supplied the military with all their trucks and buses to move troops and supplies around. After Andrew, I came home for one day and changed clothes, repacked, and went to Hawaii for Hurricane Iniki. I was gone about eight weeks straight, working disasters. Theodore Bridiss job involves critical decisions of a different nature. He is a senior engineer and supervisor in charge of major design problems for 7th Districts Civil Engineering Unit Miami. My job is to ensure that the maintenance, reconfiguration and rehabilitation of existing structures are executed to fulfill the needs of the Coast Guard, said Bridis. Be it hangers for aircraft, new bulkheads, or docking facilities for the varied classes of cutters within the Coast Guards inventory, he ensures that the facilities meet the requirements. Supervising four civilians and three Coast Guard officers, Bridis and his team have a large area of responsibility, covering Florida up to South Carolina, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Coast Guard is a great place to work because people are naturally motivated, he said. The Coast Guard does good things and people like to be associated with it. His positive attitude has paid off not only for the people that work for him but for many who have never met him. Bridis, who lost both his legs and his right arm in Vietnam combat, has worked extensively with local and state councils to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities. As a result of his significant contributions, he is one of five nationwide recipients of the Government Employees Insurance Companys Public Service Award for special achievements and contributions. His can-do attitude transcends all areas of his life. As an avid scubadiver, hes designed a special prosthesis for others to enjoy the sport, and has written about it in a diving book. Living in Florida also allows him to pursue his other hobbies of canoeing, camping, fishing and sailing. Elaine Martin works as a civil engineer with Bridis. And even though shes only been a member of the Coast Guard for a short time, shes already dealing with the big picture. Martin writes master plans, looking at future base and facility requirements 10 to 15 years down the road. I try to make sure resources are in place when theyre needed in the future, she said. Air stations, new hangers, new berthing areas, new dining areas, boat ramps, medical facilities, housing - I look into the future for very big projects. After working with the Navy in the ocean engineering office in Washington, she said she enjoys the way the Coast Guard recognizes civilian contributions. Theres no social segregation between civilian and military personnel like you may find in the other (military) branches, she said. I really appreciate that. Becoming an integral part of the bigger picture is something Gwendolyn Stevens addresses in her psychology classes at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. If there is any job that epitomizes civilian contributions in the Coast Guard, it may be that of a professor at the academy. An energetic and effervescent woman, Stevens speaks openly about the importance of the task with which she has been charged. We are all working to produce a Coast Guard ensign, she said. And it gives us a clearer focus. We can feel that weve had a hand in shaping the organization by helping shape the next generation of leaders. You cant feel much more important and relevant to an organization than that. At the academy, feeling the significance of ones own impact sometimes comes in unexpected ways. Especially for 28-year teaching veteran Dr. Irving H. King. Some of his students have gone on to become admirals. Some publish scholarly articles inspired by his former tutelage. But King, whose own credentials include a doctorate from the University of Maine, three volumes on the history of the Coast Guard and numerous essays and articles tells another story. A young officer almost apologetically entered my office one day, he said. You probably wont remember me. I wasnt a very good student. I loved history but was struggling to survive in physics and chemistry. The reason I came to see you is that its important for you to know that you had a very big impact on my life even though I wasnt necessarily a good student for you. Behind his glasses, Kings eyes softened. A smile of contentment brightened his face, That is when you feel that youre important, he said. Civilian members are a vital component of the total force. The support they provide is essential and is a foundation block under the entire Coast Guard structure. Our civilians are more than employees - they are members of the Coast Guard, said Tom Fisher, chief of the Civilian Personnel Division. |
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