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To coordinate interviews with the awardees, contact Chief Petty Officer Kyle Niemi at 202-372-4531 or Kyle.N.Niemi@uscg.mil.
Learn more about the ceremony and the other awardee by reading the event news release.
WASHINGTON — A native of Manchester, N.J., was recognized as the Coast Guard's top active-duty enlisted member during the 2014 Coast Guard Enlisted Persons of the Year Banquet Thursday on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, in Washington, D.C.
Adm. Paul Zukunft, commandant of the Coast Guard, presided over the evening ceremony at the Bolling Club on JBAB to recognize the accomplishments of Petty Officer 3rd Class Giacomo Terrizzi, the 2014 Coast Guard Enlisted Person of the Year — Active-Duty Component.
Terrizzi is a marine science technician currently assigned to Coast Guard Sector San Diego.
Terrizzi is from Manchester, N.J., and is a 2003 graduate of Manchester High School. He went on to graduate from the University of New Haven, Conn., in 2007 and enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2009. He is currently assigned to Sector San Diego as a port state control examiner and facility inspector. He also coordinates the unit's color guard, ensuring that Coast Guard representation at local public and community events is meticulous and is conducted in accordance with Coast Guard policy and regulations. He also coaches the sector's softball team. He graduated from UNH with a B.S. in investigative services (concentration in forensic science) with a minor in psychology. He is currently pursuing his Master's Degree in organizational leadership from Argosy University.
During 2014, Terrizzi repeatedly demonstrated extraordinary leadership qualities, resourcefulness, and perseverance. He served as the Captain of the Port of San Diego's direct representative for 15 high-visibility marine events. While acquiring numerous certifications directly related to his position with Sector San Diego's Waterways Management Division, Terrizzi completed certifications for both the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act, an accomplishment normally achieved by members who are more senior. Additionally, Terrizzi maintained a 4.0 GPA while enrolled in an accelerated Master’s Degree program focused on Organizational Leadership.
"It is still so surreal," Terrizzi said. "To be selected as the 2014 Coast Guard EPOY is truly an honor because I know each member nominated was very well deserving."
Terrizzi was presented the Coast Guard Commendation Medal and received numerous gifts from sponsor organizations.
As a result of being selected as one of the Enlisted Persons of the Year, Terrizzi was authorized to be meritoriously advanced to the next higher paygrade. During the ceremony, he was advanced from petty officer third class to petty officer second class.
Members of Petty Officer 3rd Class Giacomo Terrizzi’s family record his remarks during the 2014 Coast Guard Enlisted Persons of the Year Banquet at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., May 7, 2015.
Terrizzi's fiancee Elizabeth Noonan was unable to attend the ceremony, during which Terrizzi was recognized as the Enlisted Person of the Year - Active-Duty Component.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Kyle Niemi
Adm. Paul Zukunft, commandant of the Coast Guard, delivers remarks during the 2014 Coast Guard Enlisted Persons of the Year Banquet at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., May 7, 2015.
During the ceremony, Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Olson was recognized as the Coast Guard's Enlisted Person of the Year - Reserve Component, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Giacomo Terrizzi was recognized as the Enlisted Person of the Year - Active-Duty Component.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Kyle Niemi
Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Olson remarks to Petty Officer 3rd Class Giacomo Terrizzi how impressed he was with Terrizzi's speech during the 2014 Coast Guard Enlisted Persons of the Year Banquet at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., May 7, 2015.
During the ceremony, Olson and Terrizzi were recognized as the Coast Guard's Enlisted Persons of the Year.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Kyle Niemi
Petty Officer 3rd Class Giacomo Terrizzi and Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Olson pose for a photo with Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven Cantrell during the 2014 Coast Guard Enlisted Persons of the Year Banquet at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., May 7, 2015.
During the ceremony, Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Olson was recognized as the Coast Guard's Enlisted Person of the Year - Reserve Component, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Giacomo Terrizzi was recognized as the Enlisted Person of the Year - Active-Duty Component.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Kyle Niemi
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven Cantrell and Adm. Paul Zukunft, Coast Guard commandant, affix new collar devices to Giacomo Terrizzi's uniform during the 2014 Coast Guard Enlisted Persons of the Year Banquet at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., May 7, 2015.
During the ceremony, Terrizzi was recognized as the Enlisted Person of the Year - Active-Duty Component, an honor that comes with a meritorious advancement - in Terrizzi's case, an advancement from petty officer third class to petty officer second class.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Kyle Niemi
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven Cantrell, Petty Officer 2nd Class Giacomo Terrizzi and Adm. Paul Zukunft, Coast Guard commandant, pose for a photo during the 2014 Coast Guard Enlisted Persons of the Year Banquet at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., May 7, 2015.
During the ceremony, Terrizzi was recognized as the Enlisted Person of the Year - Active-Duty Component, an honor that comes with a meritorious advancement - in Terrizzi's case, an advancement from petty officer third class to petty officer second class.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Kyle Niemi
Adm. Paul Zukunft, Coast Guard commandant, Petty Officer 2nd Class Giacomo Terrizzi, the 2014 Enlisted Person of the Year — Active-Duty Component, and Chief Petty Officer Ryan Olson, the 2014 Enlisted Person of the Year — Reserve Component, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven Cantrell pose for a photo during the 2014 Coast Guard Enlisted Persons of the Year Banquet at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., May 7, 2015.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Kyle Niemi
Each year, commanders from each of the Coast Guard's nine districts select one active-duty Coast Guardsman and one Reserve Coast Guardsman from the units within their geographic boundaries and send nomination packages to the Office of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard. The master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard then convenes a panel to review the nine active-duty submissions and the nine reservist submissions, ultimately choosing one awardee for each component.
Click here to see a video featuring all 18 EPOY nominees from all nine districts.