SAN DIEGO — The Coastie of the Year Award Ceremony, organized by the San Diego Coast Guard City, is scheduled to be held at Coast Guard Sector San Diego on Jan. 28, 2026.
The nominees include Machinery Technician 1st Class Caleb Gaudian, Avionics Electrical Technician 1st Class William James, Machinery Technician 1st Class Sean Sullivan, and Public Affairs Specialist 3rd Class Christopher Sappey.
Speakers include Capt. Robert Tucker, Coast Guard Sector San Diego commander, Mr. Jon Aasted, Veteran Engagement Coordinator, City of San Diego and nominee representatives.
This year’s ceremony will honor the legacy of Elizabeth "Gena" Macres (Fischle), a World War II veteran and member of the Coast Guard SPARS, the service’s women’s reserve established during World War II. The ceremony’s theme is “Remembering the Past and Embracing the Future.”
Who:
- Capt. Robert Tucker, Coast Guard Sector San Diego commander
- Mr. Jon Aasted, Veteran Engagement Coordinator, City of San Diego
- The four nominees for Coastie of the Year
What:
- Coastie of the Year Award Ceremony
When:
- 7–9 a.m., Jan. 28, 2026. Media arrival no later than 7:45 a.m.
Where:
- U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego 2710 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
All attendees must RSVP by calling Coast Guard Public Affairs at 619-252-1304 for gate access and emailing SDCoastGuardCity@gmail.com. Requests must be submitted by Jan. 27, 2026.
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