Filipina named U.S. Coast Guard employee of the year

  Awardee Mary Jean Silva (center) in Washington DC, with U.S. Coast Guard Commander Admiral Linda Fagan (left) on Nov. 17, 2022. USCG

KODIAK, Alaska – A Philippine-born civilian executive of the United States Coast Guard was named 2021 Coast Guard Civilian Employee of the Year for exemplifying “the work ethic of the highly trained civilian employees who have contributed to the achievements of Coast Guard operational mission readiness in 2021.”

Mary Jean Silva, deputy director at the Base Kodiak Child Development Center (CDC), was honored during a ceremony at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC Nov. 17, along with eight other winners of the CEOY and Non-Appropriated Fund Employees (NAF EOY) awards.

Coast Guard leadership notified Silva of her award while was vacationing in her hometown, Malamig Gloria, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines, with her husband, Russel Andal.

“Knowing that I was selected as one of the best of the best was just incredible” a “shocked” Silva is quoted in a Defense Visual Information Distribution Service press release.

“This award meant everything to me, especially to show my children and family and everyone from my hometown what I have achieved, because it confirms that no matter your race, religion, etc., you can achieve goals and dream big if you work diligently in life. This made my city so proud!”

Silva moved to Kodiak in 2019 to work as a Training and Curriculum Coordinator, then held a temporary promotion to Director at the CDC from March 2021 to July 2021.

Since then, Silva has held the position of Deputy Director, where she acts as the Principal Assistant to the Director, executes budgets of $500,000 unallocated and $300,000 allocated funds, oversees 26 staff members, ensures proper registration of children, USDA food program implements and administers the Coast Guard grant program.

Silva also acted as a family child care coordinator for the 17th District, which oversees the training, certification and inspection of all home care programs conducted in Coast Guard housing.

The CDC has a maximum enrollment capacity of 120 children and maintained an average enrollment of 114 children through 2021.

Silva took on numerous other roles and responsibilities in addition to her existing job for most of 2021, when Base Kodiak’s CDC Director, Training and Curriculum Coordinator, Education Specialist, Administrative Assistant and Cook posts were vacant.

In addition to all this, Silva made sure the center opened on time during dangerous winter weather and stayed on base when winter weather was predicted, rather than going home at the end of the day.

This sacrifice allowed the center to open on time regardless of weather delays, allowing members of the operational commands to report without delay.

“Ms. Jean is a dedicated and diligent employee who has consistently made supporting Coast Guard families and children her number one priority. She has worked cheerfully through severe personnel shortages and is exceedingly deserving of this honor,” said Cmdr. Anna Steel, Chief of Personnel Support at Base Kodiak. “

Throughout her 27-year career in early childhood education, Silva has worked at multiple military facilities in locations such as Texas, California, Kansas and Misawa and Yokota, Japan.