Coast Guard Civilian Receives LATINA Style Service Merit
Cleveland-native Coast Guard civilian, Aidalis Mills, receives meritorious service award for promoting role of minorities, Hispanics and Latinos in the federal workforce and community.
The award was presented at the Distinguished Military Awards Luncheon during the 10th Annual National Latina Symposium in Arlington, Va., Sept. 5, 2013.
Mills, the management and program analyst for the Coast Guard 9th District Planning and Force Readiness Branch, was recognized for duties performed in an outstanding manner, in which she promoted and enhanced the role of minorities, The symposium is showcases an integral part of Hispanic heritage where the awardees are honored for their service to the country, leadership, accomplishment and commitment to building a strong community.
From her office in the A. J. Celebrezze Federal Building in downtown Cleveland, Mills manages $1.8 million of the reserve training funds, providing procedural and regulatory guidance for reserve management, facilitating mobilization and demobilization of forces, and preparing and administering training related to reserve affairs. Her efforts there have played a key role in the Coast Guard 9th District being honored as the best reserve program, winning the prestigious Adm. Russell R. Waesche Award in 2011 and 2012.
Mills is involved in local social service agencies and organizations which help increase opportunities for Hispanics and minorities to advance within the civilian and federal workforce, which include the position of co-chair for the Multi-Federal Agency Hispanic Heritage Committee, an acting member of the Coalition of Hispanic/Latino Issues and Progress of Lorain, Ohio, Esperanza Inc., El Centro de Servicios Sociales, Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center, Blacks in Government, Federal Employed Women, Asian Pacific Heritage Committee, and the Disability Awareness Program.
She has been with the Coast Guard for 16 of her 26 years of federal service, coming to the 9th District Planning and Force Readiness Branch in 2005.
Pictured: Rear Adm. Sandra Stosz, superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy, Chief Petty Officer Megan Sesma, harpist with the Coast Guard Band, Aidalis Mills, management and program analyst for the Coast Guard 9th District Planning and Force Readiness Branch, Ellen Engleman-Connors, deputy director of Coast Guard Governmental and Public Affairs, pose for a photo after Sesma and Mills received the Latina Style Meritorious Service Award.