The Coast Guard recently honored two exceptional members with its prestigious Education Services Officer of the Year (ESOY) award, celebrating their commitment to professional development and lifelong learning. Mr. Tony Goodloe, the Training Center Yorktown ESO, received the 2024 Full-time ESOY award, and Lt. Joseph McGinnis, the Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Lafayette Commanding Officer and collateral ESO earned the Collateral Duty ESOY recognition.
These awards, which highlight outstanding contributions to the Coast Guard's voluntary education services program, recognize members who demonstrate sustained exceptional standards of proficiency and dedication while reflecting the service's core values of "Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty."
Building Educational Excellence at Training Center Yorktown
For Mr. Tony Goodloe, serving as the Education Services Officer at Training Center Yorktown for the past five years has been about creating opportunities and removing barriers for service members seeking educational advancement.
"When you leave here at TC Yorktown, I want you to leave better than what you came," explains Goodloe, a Navy veteran who joined the Coast Guard's education services team after 14 years working with the Navy College Program.
This philosophy led Goodloe to develop innovative approaches like his "March Madness" education support event, a three-month program running February through April that brings local colleges and universities directly to service members. Unlike traditional one-day education fairs, Goodloe's extended format gives members multiple opportunities to connect with schools.
"If the service member misses the school in February, they can come back in March or April to speak to that same representative," says Goodloe. "I want to expose the students to all schools because you never know—that one school could be top to them and get them started along their education journey."
His impact is evident in the numbers: Goodloe facilitated more than 735 Tuition Assistance (TA) and Credentialing Assistance (CA) applications totaling over $571,000 in funding last year. He also coordinated in-person Project Management Professional (PMP) and Lean Six Sigma courses through the CG COOL program, which drew immediate interest.
"The first class I set up in July 2024, I sent out an email on Monday asking for 30 people, and by Tuesday morning, the list was full," Goodloe recalls. "Having the CO and CMC—two members of the command triad—sign up speaks volumes about how they view education."
As Test Control Officer, Goodloe also administered 220 Service-Wide Exams, 3 Armed Forces Classification Tests, 18 Defense Language Proficiency Tests, 3 College Preparatory tests, and 24 Deck Watch Officer exams.
When asked about common barriers service members face, Goodloe points to hesitation: "The biggest barrier is actually hitting the send button to get started. What I tell service members is: don't settle. You can make the best of what you want to do."
Creating a Culture of Education at MSU Duluth and Lafayette
For LT Joseph McGinnis, serving as a collateral duty ESO for the past seven years across multiple units has been an opportunity to create educational momentum among his shipmates.
McGinnis, who holds a bachelor's degree in aquatic and coastal science and a master’s in marine biology and is now pursuing a second bachelor’s in accounting, understands the transformative power of education firsthand. This perspective helped him inspire over half of MSU Duluth's 30-member crew to pursue educational opportunities.
"I'm passionate about learning and education," McGinnis explains. "The older I've gotten, the more I've realized how important it is to learn different views and aspects on life."
His approach centers on helping members clarify their "why" before starting their educational journey: "What do you want to do bigger picture outside the Coast Guard? What do you want to do in the Coast Guard?" This personalized guidance helps members connect their educational goals with long-term career aspirations.
Upon transferring to MSU Lafayette as Commanding Officer, McGinnis quickly made an impact by organizing a four-day PMP boot camp for 19 enlisted personnel across four operational units, helping approve over $37,000 in Credentialing Assistance applications.
McGinnis's leadership skills were further demonstrated through his participation in Leadership Duluth, where he led a team to organize a talent showcase that raised over $10,000 for a local youth homeless shelter.
"My Coast Guard experience helped me bring people down to earth and keep them on track," McGinnis reflects. "The military instills skills in establishing roles, keeping people on track with accountability, and setting timelines to meet objectives."
For McGinnis, being an ESO is fundamentally about servant leadership: "It reminds you that leadership shouldn't be about you. It's about the people around you."
The Value of Educational Support
These award recipients demonstrate how the Coast Guard's investment in education benefits both individual members and the service as a whole. Through programs like Tuition Assistance, Credentialing Assistance, and the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance grant, members can advance their education while serving. Together, these award recipients embody the Coast Guard's commitment to lifelong learning and professional development—values that strengthen both individual members and the service as a whole.
To learn more about each awardees’ notable achievements, visit the FORCECOM ESOY and ISOY award 2024 site.
The ESOY and ISOY awards recognize outstanding contributions to the Coast Guard's voluntary education services program. Prior to 2012, these awards were presented at the CG ESO symposium. Due to travel restrictions and cost savings, the awards are now presented at the Council of College and Military Educators (CCME) Professional Development Symposium.
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