The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Brian E. Hudson, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight from 29 August to 5 September 2005 while serving as Aircraft Commander aboard Coast Guard HH-65 helicopters during Hurricane KATRINA rescue operations. Lieutenant Commander Hudson operated as aircraft commander for over 33 day and night flight hours, saving 98 survivors from the floodwaters and collapsed structures spread throughout metropolitan New Orleans. With search efforts hampered by low visibility and an unprecedented level of conflicting air traffic, Lieutenant Commander Hudson located 29 survivors trapped in a flooded three-stop’ apartment complex, desperately signaling for rescue from windows and balconies. Unable to deliver the rescue basket to the obstructed windows, Lieutenant Commander Hudson guided his crew through a series of 29 rescue swimmer deployments to the apartment balconies, rescuing all survivors. On the night of 31 August, Lieutenant Commander Hudson spotted a faint light signal amidst a cluster of 300-foot radio antennas and a network of elevated power lines and guide wires. Fearlessly navigating through countless obstacles while flawlessly maneuvering the aircraft to a 150 foot hover, Lieutenant Commander Hudson located a family of five trapped on a balcony surrounded by 90 foot trees and power lines. With no margin for error in altitude or position, operating the aircraft at its maximum performance capability, Lieutenant Commander Hudson performed five direct deployments of the rescue swimmer to recover the entire family while overcoming the additional challenges presented by a turbulent crosswind. Later, Lieutenant Commander Hudson spotted a flooded elementary school with over 200 survivors in need of evacuation. Marshaling and coordinating a multitude of air assets on scene, Lieutenant Commander Hudson initiated the recovery of all 200 survivors, personally recovering 27 victims from the perilous conditions. Lieutenant Commander Hudson’s actions, aeronautical skill, and valor were instrumental in the rescue of 98 storm victims. His courage, judgment and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.