The Coast Guard proudly honors seven winners of the 2025 Inspirational Leadership Awards.
The 2025 winners are:
- CDR Nicole Tesoniero, CGC HARRIET LANE (WMEC 903): CAPT David H. Jarvis, Navy League’s Award for Inspirational Leadership Award
- YN1 Jessica Kirk, CGC HARRIET LANE (WMEC 903): SM1 Douglas A. Munro, Navy League’s Award for Inspirational Leadership Award
- George Brooks, CG Atlantic Area (LANT-39): George R. Putnam Inspirational Leadership Award
- Robert Carew, Flotilla 13-2, District 7, Marathon, Florida: COMO Charles S. Greanoff Inspirational Leadership Award
- CDR Daniel Wiltshire, CGC MUNRO (WMSL 755): CAPT John G. Witherspoon Inspirational Leadership Award - Active Duty
- CDR Loraleigh Hild, U.S. Southern Command: CAPT John G. Witherspoon Inspirational Leadership Award - Reserve
- MKC Scott Parsons, CGC MUNRO (WMSL 755): MCPO Angela M. McShan Inspirational Leadership Award - Active Duty
“The winners of these awards are exceptional leaders who epitomize selfless service and unwavering dedication to their people, the Service and mission excellence,” said RADM Michael H. Day, acting deputy for personnel and readiness. “We salute them for being tireless advocates and visionary leaders who have made invaluable contributions by fostering trust and teamwork, demonstrating unwavering integrity and leading by example.”
Keep reading to learn about the winners’ accomplishments and the history behind each award.
CAPT David H. Jarvis Navy League Leadership Award
The Navy League presents the Captain David H. Jarvis Award for Inspirational Leadership to a Coast Guard officer who has made outstanding contributions to the high standards of competence and leadership traditions in the Coast Guard.
Congratulations to CDR Nicole Tesoniero – 2025 CAPT David H. Jarvis Navy League Leadership Award Winner!
With nearly 20 years of dedicated Coast Guard service and over a year at the helm of CGC HARRIET LANE (WMEC 903), CDR Tesoniero has shown what true leadership looks like. After leading the cutter out of a massive 16-month, $20 million overhaul, she guided HARRIET LANE and her crew on an 8,000-mile homeport shift from Virginia to Hawaii—and that was just the beginning.
Over the past year, CDR Tesoniero led her crew through more than 220 days away from home, 39,000 nautical miles steamed, and a historic first deployment to the Indo-Pacific under Operation BLUE PACIFIC. Along the way, she inspired excellence, championed crew well-being, and created a strong culture of teamwork and transparency. She made sure every crew member had a voice – launching focus groups, boosting morale through intentional operational planning, weekly trivia, and shared meals, and always leading from the front.
Her strategic thinking made a real impact: she reshaped deployment schedules to balance mission success with family time, executed complex operations in contested waters, and forged meaningful partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. From regional diplomats to local media and even the Coast Guard Commandant and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, her leadership left a lasting mark wherever the HARRIET LANE sailed.
Whether mentoring future leaders, navigating the complexities of international operations, or simply ensuring her crew felt seen and supported, CDR Tesoniero has set the gold standard for Coast Guard leadership.
CDR Tesoniero will receive formal recognition from the Navy League at a later date.
SM1 Douglas Munro Navy League Leadership Award
The Navy League presents the Douglas Munro Award for Inspirational Leadership to a Coast Guard enlisted member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and professional competence to the extent of their rank and rate.
Congratulations to YN1 Jessica Kirk – 2025 SM1 Douglas A. Munro Navy League Leadership Award Winner!
YN1 Kirk demonstrates remarkable leadership in the face of challenging and uncertain operations onboard a high operational tempo cutter. She consistently leads by example well beyond the Ship’s Office - she qualified in critical leadership positions for various shipboard evolutions, including as Boat Deck Captain, Deck Safety, Davit Operator, and Master Helmsman. Her leadership is felt across the crew, and she’s known for inspiring those around her to do their best.
Her commitment to her shipmates is unmatched, which is reflected in her routinely being identified as the most influential member of the crew. Following the HARRIET LANE’s change of homeport to Honolulu, YN1 Kirk initiated a partnership with the USS Battleship Missouri Memorial Association and coordinated an exclusive guided tour for the crew to mark the solemn anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks and the 79th anniversary of the Japanese surrender to end World War II. She ensures that her crew feels supported and connected by leading conversations on important topics like retention and suicide prevention.
YN1 Kirk is also a driving force behind personnel readiness, ensuring everyone has what they need to succeed. She has provided exceptional customer service in support of crew members traveling to and from some of the most remote locations in the world, tackled nuanced travel logistics and resolved $620,00 in bonuses due to HARRIET LANE crewmembers, just to name a few examples. And she does it all with a contagious enthusiasm and her trademark positive attitude.
Beyond her technical skills, YN1 Kirk is dedicated to mentoring and helping others grow. She created weekly professional development sessions and facilitated one-on-one mentoring sessions to her shipmates, helping them advance in their careers and personal readiness.
As the Munro winner, YN1 will receive a meritorious advancement to Chief Petty Officer. She’ll also receive formal recognition from the Navy League at a later date.
George R. Putnam Inspirational Leadership Award
This award recognizes the Coast Guard civilian employee (appropriated or non-appropriated) who best exemplifies the Coast Guard's core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty.
Congratulations to Mr. George Brooks – 2025 Mr. George R. Putnam Inspirational Award Winner!
With over 30 years of civilian service and 8 years of active-duty experience, Mr. Brooks brought exceptional leadership, vision, and energy to LANT-39 from day one. He quickly stood out with his strategic foresight, creating a long-term plan to elevate the operational readiness of PATFORSWA and build a sustainable Cutter Squadron model that can be replicated across the globe.
Under his leadership, major improvements were made across the board. He introduced a structured framework—PESTO (People, Equipment, Supply, Training, Ordnance)—that streamlined operations and significantly boosted efficiency and readiness. Mr. Brooks also spearheaded the first-ever Strategic Needs Assessment in PATFORSWA’s 22-year history, identifying key systemic challenges and driving meaningful solutions that are now shaping future models in other areas of the Coast Guard.
He didn’t stop there. He led a groundbreaking workforce analysis, secured $580K in funding, coordinated over 60 interviews, and analyzed more than 3,000 tasks—all to ensure the unit is staffed and structured for long-term success. Recognizing a safety gap, he also championed the development of the Coast Guard’s first formal doctrine for at-sea drug destruction, improving safety and standardizing procedures across the service.
George’s impact extends beyond operations. He’s known as a dedicated mentor, a team builder, and a true servant leader. From revitalizing key MOAs in Bahrain to opening his home for office gatherings, Mr. Brooks creates an environment of respect, camaraderie, and excellence. His leadership not only strengthens missions, but also uplifts people.
COMO Charles S. Greanoff Inspirational Leadership Award
This award recognizes the Flotilla Commander who best exemplifies the Coast Guard's core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty.
Congratulations FC Robert Carew – 2025 COMO Charles S. Greanoff Inspirational Leadership Award Winner!
FC Carew has been an absolute powerhouse for the Coast Guard Auxiliary this past year. Despite flying AuxAir missions twice a week from October through May, he stepped up to lead Flotilla 13. Under his leadership, the flotilla has turned into a thriving, active unit. He introduced member surveys to really understand what folks wanted, shifted meeting times to fit everyone’s schedules better, and even added a fellowship hour that boosted morale and participation. Plus, he kicked off regular, engaging training sessions that everyone looks forward to.
His contributions to AuxAir are just as impressive — in 2024 alone, he flew 35 missions totaling nearly 178 hours. He’s been the driving force behind recruiting and training every Observer, Air Crew, and Pilot in Division 13 since 2015, growing the Florida Keys’ pilot team to eight strong. On top of all that, he volunteered to fly important missions on Veterans Day and Thanksgiving so active-duty members could be with their families.
FC Carew filled all the Flotilla Staff Officer positions and improved administrative efficiency by being the first in Division 13 to adopt electronic meeting minutes.
CAPT John G. Witherspoon Inspirational Leadership Awards
This award recognizes an active duty and a reserve officer who best exemplify the Coast Guard's core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty.
Congratulations CDR Daniel Wiltshire –2025 CAPT John G. Witherspoon Inspirational Leadership Award Winner (Active Duty)!
From the moment a new crew member steps onboard CGC MUNRO, CDR Wiltshire personally leads an onboarding process that makes everyone feel like part of the family. As the Executive Officer, he redesigned the Welcome Aboard package, set clear sponsor guidelines, and held one-on-one meetings to explain the ship’s core values around People, Mission, and Transparency. His commitment to “open, flat communication” means everyone – from junior enlisted to officers – feels heard and involved.
With experience ranging from EMT and Navy Surface Warfare Officer to Tactical Action Officer and CGA Nautical Science Instructor, CDR Wiltshire brings unmatched “street credibility” to the job. This real-world background helps him connect with the crew and explain the “why” behind tough missions, building trust and cohesion. On the bridge and in CIC, he mentors watchstanders, creating leadership opportunities and ensuring the crew performs at its best—especially during intense counternarcotics patrols where MUNRO seized over 31,000 kilograms of cocaine and interdicted 65 smugglers.
But what really sets CDR Wiltshire apart is how much he cares about the crew. He’s submitted nearly 100 personal awards and multiple team and unit awards to highlight crew excellence, mentored members on careers and personal finance, and helped multiple members achieve major career milestones like flight school and leadership programs. When a crew member faced a rare cancer diagnosis, he went above and beyond—coordinating medical care, benefits, and family support, showing the crew that he’s there for them no matter what.
His focus on training and readiness is unmatched. Under his leadership, over 200 crew earned more than 800 qualifications and certifications, and MUNRO scored 96% on a tough PACAREA Basic Cutter Operations assessment—even right after a demanding deployment. CDR Wiltshire truly embodies what it means to lead with purpose and care.
Congratulations CDR Loraleigh Hild – 2025 CAPT John G. Witherspoon Inspirational Leadership Award Winner (Reserve)!
As the Executive Officer, CDR Hild represents the Coast Guard at Reserve Unit SOUTHCOM, a high-profile joint unit, where she led 33 personnel. She volunteered to take multi-month orders to support Operation Vigilant Sentry (OVS), leveraging her active duty and civilian experience to benefit the service and its interagency efforts.
Her professional presence and dedication to solving problems creatively, ethically, and expeditiously has strengthened partnerships with federal agency partners and improved maritime security outcomes in the Caribbean. She helped to implement a focus on the law enforcement territorial integrity of maritime borders as an official exercise objective for a major security cooperation event involving 30 Caribbean nations.
Closer to home, she pioneered the use of DOD funding for Coast Guard reserve recalls, initially at SOUTHCOM and then with multiple reserve units based on her experience.
Her respect for others is evident from onboarding to exit. She conducts 30-90 minute individual onboarding interviews where she learns about the member, conveys expectations, and stills a sense of ownership in the unit. The feedback she received in the exit interviews guides improvements where possible.
CDR Hild leads by example in her professional and personal life. She is an exceptional mentor and community cultivator, dedicated to helping others get to the next level. She mentors peers and subordinates through facilitating communication among CGRU XOs, conducting mentoring sessions, and organizing reserve mentoring panels. She mentors senior leaders by emphasizing the importance of recognizing team members thru simple gestures like celebratory messages recognizing birthdays or promotions.
She is a superior athlete who participates in charity events and excels in national "Tactical Games" competitions (that she routinely wins). Her “stunning” dedication to athletic training, fueled by a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence, inspires her colleagues.
MCPO Angela McShan Inspirational Leadership Award
This award recognizes an active duty and reserve Chief Petty Officer who best exemplify the Coast Guard's core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty.
Congratulations MKC Scott Parsons – 2025 MCPO Angela McShan Inspirational Leadership Award Winner (Active Duty)!
Chief Parsons serves with unwavering integrity and exemplifies the Coast Guard Core Values. He speaks truth to power and provides vital crew and command perspective onboard the CGC MUNRO. This candor was exemplified during a 25-day operation that was comprised of multiple, hours-long law enforcement missions that pushed the endurance of the cutter and crew. He ensured that key decision makers received accurate assessments and crew concerns were addressed head on, resulting in the interdiction of the largest self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) in Coast Guard history.
When both mission-critical water production plants failed simultaneously, MKC demonstrated exceptional technical and hands-on-leadership, leading his team through a middle-of-the-night repair to ensure the crew had full capacity of 10,000 gallons of potable water.
Chief epitomizes selfless service, balancing his commitment to mission and people as demonstrated by his consistent work to leave CGC MUNRO better than he found it. An exceptional technical leader, he coordinated 392 periodic maintenance items and lead all-hours repairs to equipment vital to mission execution while ensuring his teams needs were met. He also championed initiatives to improve living conditions, which included successfully competing for $25,000 in funds to upgrade the crew lounge.
His dedication to crew mentorship and development fostered unparalleled proficiency and mission success. His efforts were codified by the unit’s 98% score in the inaugural Pacific Area Basic Cutter Operations inspection and effective casualty response on two out-of-hemisphere deployments.
MKC Parson excels at motivating the crew with an eye on mission excellence. While deployed, he led the MUNRO’s engineers on emergent at-sea repairs on mission critical equipment. With a 24-hour window between law enforcement missions, he rallied and empowered his team to troubleshoot and systematically repair a disabling casualty on the primary pursuit boat while providing key guidance. The swift repair enabled MUNRO to interdict a low-profile smuggling vessel and, later, the SPSS in an emerging, trans-Pacific smuggling vector.
Future Nominations
The Office of Leadership (DPR-5) solicits for Inspirational Leadership Award nominations each November. 2026 submissions will be due Jan. 14, 2026. Eligibility requirements, specific guidelines and nomination procedures are outlined on the office’s website.
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