Proudly Celebrating Women’s History Month

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo illustration (depicting just a few of our female members) and✍ by Deborah Heldt Cordone, AUXPA1.

COMO David G. Porter

Asst. National Commodore 

National Diversity & Inclusion Team

US Coast Guard Auxiliary

PROUDLY CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH



On this 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡, we would like to pay tribute to all the women of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Coast Guard. We have a beautifully diverse and dedicated membership. 

Women in the Auxiliary join a committed group of Team Coast Guard members past and present, and play a vital role in contributing to the varied missions of the Coast Guard and Auxiliary. Bravo Zulu and thank you for your service!

The Diversity and Inclusion Directorate website states, "Our diversity is shaped by a variety of characteristics including age, ethnicity, gender, disability, language, religious beliefs, life stages, education, career, sexual orientation, personality and marital status. Additionally, Diversity & Inclusion means accepting, welcoming and valuing the differences inherent in every individual and recognizing the contribution that a diverse and inclusive membership can make to our organizational effectiveness and operational performance."

We encourage all of you to recognize, respect and appreciate the differences we all have.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo illustration (depicting just a few of our female members) and✍ by Deborah Heldt Cordone, AUXPA1.

Regards to all,

Lourdes

Lourdes R. Oliveras, MPH/AUXPA1  

• National Director, Public Affairs DIR-A

US Coast Guard Auxiliary

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO   

lourdesauxpa1@yahoo.com

                              

  

The Diversity Corner: Meet a Coast Guard Hero

by JeanneMarie C. McNamara, PA1, 081-07-04

The first quarter of each calendar year is chock full of memorable events. The federal government has chosen to highlight and honor different people and ethnic groups throughout the year because of the rich diversity our nation. A complete list suggested by the Department of Defense and Homeland Security can be found at Special Observances (defenseculture.mil). In brief, the DoD has designated the third Monday of January as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The entire month of February is designated as Black History Month, while March is designated as Women's History Month.

In light of these observances, I would like to introduce to you a true Coast Guard Hero. Her name is Lieutenant Ronaqua A. Russell, USCG and we met last summer during our tour together working on the staff for the leadership program AIM for rising high school seniors run by the Admissions office of the Coast Guard Academy. Lt. Russell was born and raised in the United States Virgin Islands. In 2008, she became a member of the graduating Class of 2012 at the United States Coast Guard Academy. While there, she excelled in her studies and was commissioned as an Ensign. She was selected for CG Flight School in Pensacola FL. After 2 years of study, she became a fixed wing aviator. Then in 2017, Lt. Russell was assigned to the 8th CG District where she flew numerous missions including search and rescue (SAR) and environmental monitoring. She also functioned as the ALO – Auxiliary Liaison Officer and got to know many of our operational CG   Auxiliarists.  

                                              

         

During Hurricane Harvey, she flew through dangerous weather conditions providing visibility and communications to our pilots and thereby, allowing SAR operations to take place. The success of the CG's response was largely due to her aeronautical skills in providing critical information throughout the storm. As a result, Lt. Russell was presented the CG AIR MEDAL by President Trump – the highest aviation award the CG has. In addition, she was installed into the Wall of Honor which highlights Coast Guardsmen who have achieved this award and is located at the Coast Guard Academy in New London CT. Her citation reads, "Lieutenant Russell is cited for meritorious heroic achievement in aerial flight from 24 August to 11 September 2017 in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey. This category four hurricane released more precipitation than any other tropical cyclone in U.S. history. Making landfall on three separate occasions, Harvey discharges as much as 52 inches of rain throughout 28,000 square miles during a five-day deluge. As an HC-144 First Pilot, Lieutenant Russell 's aeronautical skill was paramount to the successful response in the face of extremely hazardous weather. Due to widespread outage to air traffic control infrastructure, she provided expert navigation through thunderstorms, heavy turbulence, and moderate icing just hours after Hurricane Harvey made landfall. As the second fixed wing asset to attempt landing at Air Station Houston, Lieutenant Russell acted as pilot monitoring while executing a non-precision circling approach to minimums in heavy rain with less than one mile visibility. After breaking out, she quickly assessed the landing environment, provided visual traffic separation from numerous low flying helicopters, and deftly chose the best runway to land, allowing safe delivery of eight mission essential personnel and 800 pounds of lifesaving equipment. Lieutenant Russell's actions and aeronautical skill were instrumental in the rescue and recovery effort in Houston. In addition, Lieutenant Russell is the first African American female aviator in the Coast Guard to receive the Air Medal. Her courage, judgement and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard."

After completing duty this summer at Air Station Miami in Coast Guard District 7, Lt. Russell will be returning to District 8 as a fixed-wing flight instructor. She will be stationed in Sector Corpus Christi with duty at the Naval Air Station training CG, Naval and Marine Corps pilots. We are thrilled to have such a skilled pilot back in our sector – here's hoping that it will not be as active a hurricane season this year.

On a final note, you may have a chance to meet her when The Coast Guard Aviators Association, the Order of the Pterodactyl, has their first in-person meeting since COVID-19 at Corpus Christi, this November. CG Auxiliarists who have aviation qualifications may join the Association and attend the meeting with their counterparts from Active duty, Reserve Component and Retired CG Aviators.