Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, the Honorable John Tien, presents Senior Chief Petty Officer John Elsbree with the Exceptional Service Gold Medal during an award ceremony held at Base Seattle Thursday, April, 28, 2022. Elsbree represented the larger USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC-1139) boarding team, which received the medal for conducting a first-of-its-kind technical assistance boarding
and inspection of a Chinese fishing vessel found poaching in the Republic of Palau’s National Marine Sanctuary. The boarding team displayed the utmost professionalism, strengthening international partnerships while providing strong opposition to illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing in Oceania. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Clark)