Division Eleven Wins International ISAR ... - USCGAUX District 7

Admiral Select Watson
FORT LAUDERDALE - Addressing District
Seven Annual Conference attendees at the
Commodore’s Banquet, Rear Admiral (Select)
James Watson, Coast Guard District Seven
Chief of Staff praised D7 Auxiliarists for personifying
the very traits that were the Conference
theme.
“Innovation, integration and integrity”, said Watson,
“are more than just words; they are actions
that are accepted in just about all flotillas
in the District.”
Regarding innovation, the Admiral stated that
Seventh District Auxiliarists continue to lead the
nation in innovation and success. Pointing to
the National Auxiliary Testing Center, started in
Nokomis, Florida, Watson commented,
“Auxiliarists across the country owe a great
deal to the dedicated volunteers who made the
testing center possible.” In anther innovative
initiative, Watson noted that the Seventh District
recently purchased the first Auxiliarymanned
Emergency Position Radio Beacon
Tracker with high range Direction Finder for
installation on Auxiliary aircraft to “minimize the
risk and take the ‘search’ out of Search and
Rescue.” Commending the Seventh District
Auxiliary Store, the Admiral noted that our District
store “continues to outclass others with
innovative products and competitive pricing to
the point where a large amount of orders processed
come from … other districts.”
Speaking of Integration, Watson noted that District
Seven, which has twenty percent of the
Auxiliarists nationwide, has made it a priority
for Auxiliary to work in close cooperation with
Gold Side counterparts. District Seven Auxiliarists,
he noted, in the first nine months of
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Lauds District Auxiliarists For Innovation, Integration and Integrity
By Rob Westcott, DSO-PA
Rear Admiral (Select) James Watson addressing the District
Seven Commodore’s Banquet attendees. Photo by Ken Sommers,
DSO-PB D7.
2007 have saved 28 lives and more than $2.5 million in private property for the citizens living in the District.
Because Auxiliary operational facilities man security zones at Space Shuttle launches, he said, these
zones are protected from encroachment by pleasure boaters and curious onlookers that could result in
launch delays, costing our space program more than one million dollars each time. A training program for
Gold Side Auxiliary Liaison Officers, developed by Auxiliarist Gene Kahn, brought ten Active Duty AUXLOs
to the District Conference that will enable them to better perform their duties, the Admiral said.
Commenting on Integrity, Admiral Watson noted that “Every day, Auxiliarists in the Seventh District put on
their uniforms, fire up their boats or radios, their cars their aircraft or sometimes just their laptops or cell
phones to help make this nation a safer place to live.” Pointing to District Commodore Allen Brown as an
example to all, Watson said, “Commodore, you lead by example … Thank you for the inspirational leadership
you provide.” Ω