WHO: Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh/Thomas A. Vitale

WHAT: Presentation of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 at 10:15 a.m.

WHERE: American Legion, 820 Broad Ave, Belle Vernon, Pa., 15012

PITTSBURGH — The Coast Guard will honor a World War II hero with the Navy and Marine Corps Medal at an American Legion in Pittsburgh, Friday.

Thomas A. Vitale will receive the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his heroic efforts while helping exhausted and helpless survivors reach the safety of the USS Comanche during a torpedo attack on the S.S. Dorchester, Feb. 3, 1943.

"This award recognizes that Mr. Vitales' actions were in keeping with the highest ideals of military service and in particular the Coast Guard life-saving ethos," said Cmdr. Richard Timme, commanding officer of MSU Pittsburgh. "We are honored to have a part in presenting it to one of our genuine World War II heroes."

Who: South Texas Coastal Zone Area Committee

What: Public meeting to discuss new Oil Spill Response Organizations and Disposal Clean-up Organizations in the Port Lavaca area, area contingency plan updates and newly drafted geographic response plans for south Texas.

When: Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 at 1 p.m.

Where: Ineos Nitriles, 13050 State Hwy 185 N, Port Lavaca, Texas, 77979; Training Rooms B/C.

HOUSTON — The STCZAC is holding a public meeting to discuss new OSROs and DCOs in the Port Lavaca area, area contingency plan updates and newly drafted geographic response plans for south Texas.

The STCZAC is a group responsible for maintaining the area contingency plan for coordinated response efforts to an actual or potential oil spill or chemical release. STCZAC consists of representatives from the Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi, Texas General Land Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Railroad Commission, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Nueces County Office of Emergency Management, Coastal Bend Council of Governments, Valero, Kirby, Marine Spill Response Corporation, National Spill Control School, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the Gulf of Mexico Foundation.

For more information contact, Lt. Roxanne Jensen, chief of the Incident Management Division at Sector Corpus Christi, at (361) 888-3162 x302.

WHO: Coast Guard Centralized Service Desk

WHAT: Ribbon cutting ceremony

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012

WHERE: 2nd Floor Room 2.107C 1222 Spruce St., St. Louis, Mo.

ST. LOUIS — The Coast Guard will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Tuesday, to officially open its new Centralized Service Desk in St. Louis. Over the past year, information technology support functions from around the United States have been transitioned to a single location to better serve the Coast Guard's IT mission. The new organization operates a 24/7 schedule and provides users with improved customer service and support.

The Coast Guard selected St. Louis as the CSD site due to its central location between east and west coasts and the reduced likelihood of a major service disruption caused by a natural disaster. The CSD along with geographically dispersed support units provide enhanced capabilities ensuring continuous IT operations should a disaster strike anywhere in the U.S.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, St. Louis has experienced a net loss of 61,000 jobs in the metro area since 2008. The Coast Guard's CSD initiative offers the St. Louis community an opportunity to expand and create dozens of jobs locally. Since the CSD began taking on new services in June of 2011, 35 active duty Coast Guard members and six civilians have transitioned to St. Louis and 33 local contractors have been hired.

Editor's Note: Media interested in attending the event should contact Rory Jansen at (757) 951-3770, rory.e.jansen@uscg.mil, to confirm attendance.

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WHO: Coast Guard Sector Mobile, Ala., Habitat for Humanity

WHAT:  Community home-building effort

WHEN: Friday, Nov. 18, 2011 at 8 a.m.

WHERE: 510 Line St., Mobile, Ala., 36608

MOBILE, Ala. — Members of Sector Mobile and Habitat for Humanity will construct three homes for a group of deserving, underpriveleged Mobile residents. Media are invited to attend the event.

Habitat for Humanity is a faith-based organization that builds and rehabilitates simple, affordable homes in partnership with people in need. Due to the organization's non-profit, no-interest mortgages, and because homes are built primarily by volunteers, mortgage payments are affordable to low income families who are unable to obtain conventional financing for a home.

"Our command encourages an environment and attitude that promotes volunteerism within our local community," said Lt. j.g. Brian Porter, assistant logistics officer, Sector Mobile. "We are fortunate to have extraordinary people in our organization that are not only willing, but have a great desire to give back to the community."

WHO: Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Baton Rouge, La., Jefferson Terrace Elementary

WHAT: Partnership in Education Program Award

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011 at 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Jefferson Terrace Elementary, 9902 Cal Road, Baton Rouge, La., 70809

NEW ORLEANS — MSU Baton Rouge will receive a Partnership in Education Program Award for "Best Unit Partnership" from July 2010 to July 2011 for its cooperative effort with Jefferson Terrace Elementary from July 2010 to July 2011.

Coast Guard Capt. Paul Boinay, chief, Office of Civil Rights Policy, will formally recognize MSU Baton Rouge and Jefferson Terrace Elementary for their support of education outreach initiatives.

"The award reflected our unit's partnership activities and reinforced our committment to quality achievement, excellence in education and improved educational opportunities," said Lt. Cmdr. Quicy Davis, commanding officer of MSU Baton Rouge.

*Editor's Note: Media interested in attending the event are advised to arrive 15 minutes prior to the start time.

WHO: Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala.

WHAT: Dedication ceremony.

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 at 1 p.m.

WHERE: Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile 
                 8501 Tanner Williams Road
                 Mobile, AL 36608

The Wilks Hall dedication will be named in honor of Capt. Bobby C. Wilks, the first African American in the Coast Guard to become a pilot, to the achieve the rank of captain and to command a Coast Guard air station, which was located in Brooklyn, N.Y. Wilks earned his commission from Officer Candidate School in 1956 and completed flight training in 1957. A few of Wilks' many accomplishments include more than five personal military awards, more than 6,000 flight hours, a Bachelor of Arts from Harris-Stowe Teachers College and a Master of Arts from the University of St. Louis.

Additionally, the base pond will be named in honor of Capt. Bradley W. Bean. Bean served 28 years in the Coast Guard, which included a tour as executive officer for ATC Mobile. He received more than five personal military awards, flew more than 5,000 hours, and he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Science from Saint Anselm College and a Master of Science in Industrial Administration from Purdue University.  

***Media wishing to attend the dedication ceremony are asked to R.S.V.P. to Lt. Terdell Nash at (251) 441-6807. Attendees are asked to arrive no later than 12:15 p.m.***

WHO: Coast Guard Sector Mobile and Mobile County Health Department

WHAT: South Alabama Rescue Search and Recovery

WHEN: Nov. 8, 2011; 5 p.m.

WHERE: Jon Archer Agricultural Center
                 1070 Schillinger Rd., N.
                 Mobile, AL 36608-5298

Capt. Don Rose and Lt. Amanda Henderson of Coast Guard Sector Mobile will focus on local search and rescue interagency efforts and cover lessons learned from the 2011 summer SAR season. In addition, there will be an overview of the USCG SAR software and a discussion covering carbon monoxide poisoning/hyperbaric oxygen treatments. 

“This will be a good time for the Mobile area first responders to meet,” said Rose, sector commander for Sector Mobile. “This will be an opportunity for various local search and rescue partners to strategize and review in hopes of improving interagency cooperation.”

***Editor's Note: Media interested in attending the news briefing should be present 15 minutes prior to the start time. For more information, contact Ens. Torry James at 251-287-4842.

WHO: U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River

WHAT: Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River is scheduled to host a career day for members of Students of All Races interested in attending the Coast Guard Academy. Guests will be allowed aboard the sector to experience a slide show, receive a tour of local Coast Guard units and participate in panel meetings/Q&A with officers and former cadets. Admission is free.

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

WHERE: Coast Guard Base Sector Lower Mississippi River, 2 A.W. Willis Ave., Memphis, Tenn. 38105

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River is hosting a career day to educate students on possible career opportunities available through the Coast Guard Academy, Saturday.

SOAR is a group designed to expose a diverse population of students and their families to the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Academy. This program is offered at various Coast Guard units throughout the nation to allow the public greater personal contact with academy admissions staff and graduates.

For more information on the event, please contact Cmdr. Yardley Bailey at 205-242-4507 or Yardley.S.Bailey@uscga.edu.

Who: The South Texas Coastal Zone Area Committee (STCZAC), the group responsible for maintaining the area contingency plan for coordinated response efforts to an actual or potential oil spill or chemical release. STCZAC consists of representatives from:

• U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi

• Texas General Land Office (TGLO)

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

• Texas Railroad Commission

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

• Nueces County Office of Emergency Management

• Coastal Bend Council of Governments

• Valero

• Kirby

• Marine Spill Response Corporation

• National Spill Control School, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

• Gulf of Mexico Foundation

What: Public meeting to discuss the area contingency plan and geographic response plans, a new force majeure plan, and recent activities in the Port of Brownsville.

When: Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, at 1 p.m.

Where: Port of Brownsville Fire Department Training Room, 1000 Foust Road, Brownsville, Texas 78521.