The Coast Guard and Elizabeth City State University signed a memorandum of agreement at ECSU Tuesday.
The primary objectives highlighted by the memorandum are to optimize outreach and engagement efforts with ECSU, synergize the Coast Guard’s civilian and military officer recruitment efforts and assist the university by providing additional tuition-saving choices, academic options and research opportunities.
Cmdr. Bruce Brown, commanding officer of Base Elizabeth City and the leader of the initiative, plans to form a chamber of commerce and military affairs committee at the school, establish Coast Guard presence at ECSU ceremonies, and create more Coast Guard College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative scholarships for ECSU students.
Rear Adm. Meredith Austin, commander of the Coast Guard 5th District, is the executive champion of the initiative. Air Station Elizabeth City and Base Elizabeth City will serve as the lead Coast Guard command for the partnership with ECSU.
“Our goal in partnering with educational institutions, like ECSU, is to ensure that the Coast Guard can continue to recruit and retain a diverse, highly skilled workforce,” said Austin. “This diversity will stimulate innovation, new approaches, and fresh perspectives to solve complex organizational challenges now and in the future.”
Eleven Coast Guard CSPI students have graduated from ECSU, including Cmdr. Warren Judge, now the executive officer of Base Elizabeth City, and Lt. j.g. Philip Dodson, now a helicopter pilot at Air Station Elizabeth City. Eight CSPI students are currently enrolled at the school.