SACRAMENTO– A Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento C-130 Hercules aircraft pilot received the Department of Defense African American History Month Recognition Award, Wednesday in Atlanta.
Lt. Randal Black was one of two Coast Guardsmen selected for this award, and his selection was based on his distinguished leadership in both operational and collateral duty roles.
On Jan. 29, 2009, Black and his seven-person crew dropped a raft to a downed civilian pilot from a C-130 to minimizing exposure to the frigid pacific waters off the coast of Half Moon Bay, Calif. This life-saving rescue resulted in the receipt of the Coast Guard aviation’s Elmer Stone Rescue Award.
Black’s leadership as chair of the unit’s diversity council and former role as civil rights officer fostered a climate of fairness, candor and respect among unit members. His role as ground safety officer established a culture of safety through “red-zone” weekend promotions and unit-led command inspections. In addition, his guidance significantly transformed ground safety and diversity programs and contributed to the unit’s recognition for the Sacramento Workplace Excellence Leadership Award.
