Oct. 17, 2003 — U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO) Myron Dalmida, a 1978 graduate of Charlotte Amalie High School, moves onward with his career at one of the busiest units in the Northwest.
MCPO Dalmida began his three-year assignment on Oct. 6 at the Naval Engineering Support Unit Seattle, Wash. "The unit's mission," Dalmida said, "is to ensure Coast Guard Cutters in Pacific Area meet their operational requirements by providing quality maintenance and repairs for Engineering Systems."
NESU Seattle's primary mission is to provide engineering and logistics support for Coast Guard ice breakers CGC Polar Star, CGC Polar Sea, CGC Healy, and two high-endurance cutters, CGC Mellon and CGC Midgett.
In addition, NESU Seattle supports other Pacific Area ships as necessary. During in-port periods, NESU performs preventative maintenance, repairs casualties and executes special projects and other maintenance requests for their primary customers. NESU performs port engineer services for all cutters undergoing contract availability in Washington and Alaska.
Before his arrival in Seattle, Dalmida received a Commandant of the Coast Guard Letter of Commendation while stationed at the Integrated Support Command in Miami, Fla. He worked in Miami from July 2002 to September 2003. The Commandant letter comments on his exceptional professional leadership of 21 junior enlisted personnel in completing 750 work orders, saving the Coast Guard, more than $25,000 in labor cost. In addition, as a team member of the 2003 Raising Coast Guard Visibility in the U.S. Virgin Island Program, he volunteered his off duty time to travel throughout the islands recruiting four civilians interested in joining the Coast Guard.
Master Chief Dalmida exemplifies the Coast Guard's core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty. "He has distinguished himself from his peers through his untiring motivation, outstanding professional knowledge and a special commitment to excellence," says Chief Warrant Officer Flavel Blyden, also a Virgin Islander.
Editor's note: Coast Guard Chief Warrant Office Alvin Dalmida Jr., another Virgin Islander, writes about Virgin Islanders' activities in the U.S. Coast Guard.
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