The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral James W. Underwood, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Director, Operations Policy from June 2004 to June 2005. Rear Admiral Underwood led the dynamic evolution of policy and strategy for enhanced Homeland Security, Defense and Contingency operations and Maritime Law Enforcement. In September 2004, he headed the U.S. Delegation to Panama to assist the newly elected administration of Torrijos Espino in formulating Panama’s new national security strategy. Receiving critical acclaim from the U.S. Ambassador to Panama, his actions directly resulted in closer ties and enhanced coordination with Panama, thus contributing greatly to the overall national security of the United States in that geo-strategically significant region of the world. In continued support of the Global War on Terrorism, he provided essential programmatic oversight to the training, equipping and organizing of the Coast Guard’s largest sustained expeditionary force deployment since Vietnam for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, while simultaneously conducting port security operations to protect 100+ sealift ships destined for combat support. Rear Admiral Underwood’s contributions to a broad counter-drug strategy, focusing on actionable intelligence, innovative tactics and progressive bi-lateral agreements, netted record cocaine seizures in 2004 of over 109 metric tons and set a pace for record seizures in 2005. As a recognized expert in interagency and joint operations, he assumed a critical supporting role in the development of command and control procedures for USCG forces to support DoD during maritime homeland defense operations thus furthering the President’s National Strategy for Homeland Security. An integral team member of the President’s Proliferation Security Initiative, he oversaw efforts to expand on existing bi-lateral agreements as well as establishing several new agreements with key allies and other critical international partners to prevent and deter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Rear Admiral Underwood’s leadership, dedication, and devotion to duty in this assignment and over the course of his remarkable 33-year career, are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Legion of Merit
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Legion of Merit
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Legion of Merit
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States Coast GuardRank:
Rear AdmiralAction Date:
May 2002 – May 2004
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral James W. Underwood, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander, SEVENTEENTH Coast Guard District, Naval Forces Alaska, and Maritime Defense Command One Seven, from May 2002 to May 2004. Under his leadership Seventeenth District units prosecuted over 1,200 search and rescue cases, saving over 360 lives and assisting over 1,070 others. His operational expertise and astute diplomatic skills were instrumental in resolving potentially volatile situations on the Maritime Boundary Line with Russia when foreign fishing vessels were detected encroaching on the United States side of the Line. He executed an overt patrol strategy and developed an excellent rapport with his Northeast Regional Directorate subsequently declined significantly. His emphasis on maritime homeland security planning and interagency teamwork proved invaluable during the well coordinated multi-agency response in Valdez over the 2003 Christmas holidays in response to an increase in the nationwide terrorist threat conditions. Rear Admiral Underwood’s teamwork approach was reflected in all aspects of Coast Guard operations as evidenced in the superb interagency effort to monitor the Greenpeace vessel ESPERANZA’s operations while operating in and around Southeast Alaska. Recognizing the value of the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Alaska, he directed that a Safe Boat be procured for their use, laying the foundation for a third Auxiliary Station in Homer to improve the search and rescue capability in that area. Rear Admiral Underwood’s ability, diligence, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States Coast GuardRank:
Rear AdmiralAction Date:
August 1998 – April 2000
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral James W. Underwood, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Chief of Operations Division, Coast Guard Atlantic Area, from August 1998 to April 2000. Under his aggressive, yet insightful, leadership counter drug operations were skillfully balanced with other competing mission demands. His dedicated efforts resulted in impressive strategic coordination with Commander Coast Guard District SEVEN, JIATF-EAST and numerous Caribbean Nations. Displaying extraordinary tactical acumen and commendable innovation, Captain Underwood was a driving force behind the unprecedented utilization of technologically advanced Coast Guard armed helicopters, TAGOS and deployable pursuit boats in the Coast Guard’s counter drug mission. Captain Underwood’s sterling initiatives and analytical oversight were significant factors in the year 1999, surpassing all previous years in the total amount of cocaine seized in Atlantic Area’s area of responsibility. His foresight and experience were cornerstones for effective planning and execution of the Year 2000 Contingency (Y2K). As the Regional Incident Commander, he initiated unparalleled steps in ensuring every District Staff and Operational Unit was completely prepared for any possible outcome that Y2K could have produced. Through the deliberate planning process he conscientiously sought input from everyone with a vested interest in Y2K, which resulted in a significantly higher readiness condition for all of Atlantic Area. He masterfully engaged Coast Guard Reservists to augment the Atlantic Area Operations Staff in developing, framing and prioritizing the Regional Strategic Assessment (RSA) for Atlantic Area. His superb management skills resulted in the development of an outstanding document that accurately reflects the Coast Guard’s capability requirements well into the twenty-first century. Captain Underwood’s ability, diligence, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.
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Legion of Merit
Service:
United States Coast GuardRank:
Rear AdmiralAction Date:
May 2000 – April 2002
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral James W. Underwood, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Director, Office of Intelligence and Security at the Department of Transportation (DOT), from May 200 until April 2002. Demonstrating exceptional professional competence, foresight and decisiveness, Rear Admiral Underwood served superbly as the Secretary of Transportation’s national security advisor and representative on transportation security and intelligence matters. Demonstrating unparalleled commitment to promoting security within the transportation sector, Rear Admiral Underwood established groundbreaking partnerships with industry as the DOT Sector Liaison Official for Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP), worked with industry to establish a rail Information Sharing and Analysis Center, and greatly increased awareness of CIP issues throughout the sector. He established a comprehensive DOT research & development security plan from various disjointed efforts, provided invaluable input to Federal Aviation Administration country assessments and developed a process for auditing the security of foreign code share services. In the wake of the September 11th attacks, he displayed outstanding stamina over an extended period of long hours in crisis mode leading, organizing, and managing DOT’s and the transportation sector’s response to the crisis. His active engagement in virtually every aspect of transportation security allowed the developing Transportation Security Administration to focus on organizational issues and Congressional deadlines. He coordinated all DOT support to the Office of Homeland Security and its Policy Coordinating Committees, ensured issues critical to the transportation sector were fully addressed, and drafted Departmental input on a variety of critical issues from border security, to National Guard support in airports, to a new Homeland Security Advisory System. His consistent professional demeanor, keen analytical and organizational skills, and decisiveness significantly contributed to the enhancement of the Coast Guard’s image on both a national and international basis. Rear Admiral Underwood’s ability, diligence, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.