NEW ORLEANS — The Eighth Coast Guard District announced the Eighth District Enlisted Person of the Year award winners, Thursday.
The active duty enlisted person of the year is Chief Petty Officer Joshua Foss, a health services technician stationed at Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans and a native of Bremerton, Wash. He received this prestigious award for ensuring that his unit’s medical readiness was above the Coast Guard-wide average. Foss also taught aviation physiology training to more than 60 members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and had the highest evaluation marks at Air Station New Orleans. Foss recently earned a bachelors degree in medical administration and volunteered more than 200 hours in his community in 2009.
“It’s definitely an accomplishment I am proud of,” said Foss. “I saw the list of people I was competing against, and they were all deserving of the award.”
The reserve enlisted person of the year is Petty Officer 1st Class Chris Ryle, a maritime enforcement specialist stationed at Coast Guard Sector Mobile in Alabama and a native of Gulfport, Miss. During 2009, Ryle consistently focused his energy toward improving himself, his unit, his community and the Coast Guard. He was cited for exhibiting superior leadership, outstanding personal accomplishment, expert specialty knowledge in his career field and a meticulous work ethic. Ryle, a Gulfport police detective sergeant, demonstrated these traits while also tirelessly volunteering in his community.
“It is a great honor to compete against the top reserve enlisted people of the Coast Guard and being selected by the chiefs,” said Ryle. ” I appreciate it and thank the people that work for me and with me.”
The EPOY program is designed to recognize exemplary men and women from the active and reserve Coast Guard workforce. Only enlisted members who demonstrate sustained exceptional standards of proficiency and conduct, whose military appearance and bearing are consistently impeccable and that reflect the Coast Guard’s core values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty, both in their activities with the Coast Guard as well as their communities are nominated for the award.
