Rear Adm. Keith Smith and Dr. Karrie Dixon, of Elizabeth City State University, present a signed Memorandum of Agreement Feb. 14, 2019, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. (U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Canup)
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — The Coast Guard and Elizabeth City State University signed a memorandum of agreement at ECSU Thursday.
The primary objectives highlighted by the memorandum are to optimize outreach and engagement efforts with ECSU, synergize the Coast Guard’s civilian and military officer recruitment efforts and assist the university by providing additional tuition-saving choices, academic options and research opportunities.
Capt. Joseph Deer, commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, Cmdr. Randy Meador, commanding officer of Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City, and the leaders of the initiative, will continue the following three actions: To be active members of the military affairs committee at the school, to display a Coast Guard presence at ECSU ceremonies, and to create more Coast Guard College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative scholarships for ECSU students.
Rear Adm. Keith Smith, commander of the Coast Guard 5th District, is the executive champion of the initiative. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City and Base Elizabeth City will serve as the lead Coast Guard command for the partnership with ECSU.
“Our goal in partnering with educational institutions, like ECSU, is to ensure that the Coast Guard can continue to recruit and retain a diverse, highly skilled workforce,” said Smith. “This diversity will stimulate innovation, new approaches, and fresh perspectives to solve complex organizational challenges now and in the future.”
Eighteen Coast Guard CSPI students have graduated from ECSU, including Cmdr. Warren Judge, now the executive officer of Base Elizabeth City, and Lt. Philip Dodson, now a helicopter pilot at Air Station Elizabeth City. Three CSPI students are currently enrolled at the school.
