ALAMEDA, Calif. – The 2012 Active Duty and Reserve Enlisted Person of the Year for the 11th Coast Guard District region were honored during a recognition banquet Friday, at Coast Guard Island in Alameda.
The Active Duty Enlisted Person of the Year is Petty Officer 1st Class Derek Shay, a machinery technician assigned to Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell, based in San Diego.
The Reserve Person of the Year is Petty Officer 1st Class Stepheni Norton, a yeoman assigned to the operational support division at Coast Guard Port Security Unit 311, Long Beach, Calif.
Shay, a Fountain Valley, Calif. native, is not only an outstanding engineer and sets an example but frequently volunteers within his community, giving approximately 100 hours of service to local charities. He prepared 150,000 food baskets for the needy in Haiti and Africa, and assists elderly members twice a week with their gardening, lawn care and home maintenance needs.
Shay said when growing up he always wanted to pursue a career where he could protect and help other people, and being in the Coast Guard has enabled him to do so.
“I believe in the Coast Guard missions and I lead by example. Doing so, my sense of ownership, pride, and work ethic rubs off on my shipmates,” said Shay.
Petty Officer Norton is listed as one of San Diego Magazine’s Small-Business Owners 50 People to Watch in 2012. The Southern California native volunteers in her community by creating “care suitcases” for homeless veterans, which contains food and supplies. She developed a web site to announce charitable companies and non-profit events worldwide and is the team leader for the Alzheimer’s Association Walk for a Cure 2012.
Coast Guard men and women are recognized for being Semper Paratus — always ready — but the EPOY program is designed to highlight those who demonstrate exceptional standards of proficiency and conduct and reflect the Coast Guard’s core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty at work and in their personal lives.
“These men and women are the best of the best, whom have been selected by their chiefs to represent the enlisted work force as a whole if they are selected,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Charles Bushey, the Command Master Chief for the 11th Coast Guard District. “If selected to go on and be selected as the Coast Guard winner, the members will be meritoriously promoted and further represent the enlisted work force for the coming year.”
Shay was selected out of 27 nominees from all Coast Guard units located in the 11th Coast Guard District, which includes Calif., Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Norton was selected out of 10 nominees from the same units. The award selectees submitted a package containing their biography, awards and various achievements.
The Coast Guard Reserve Enlisted Person of the Year for the 11th Coast Guard District region, Petty Officer 1st Class Stepheni Norton (center) stands with (from left) Master Chief Petty Officer Charles Bushey, 11th District Command Master Chief; Master Chief Petty Officer Leilani Cale-Jones, Command Master Chief Pacific Area; Vice Adm. Paul Zukunft, Commander Coast Guard Pacific Area; and Rear Adm. Karl L. Shultz, Commander 11th Coast Guard District, during an award ceremony on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif., March 22, 2013. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas McKenzie
