The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade David P. Sheppard, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on the Coast Guard HH-60J 6019 from 26-27 August 2005. As Co-Pilot, Lieutenant Junior Grade Sheppard courageously navigated CG-6019 through ferocious winds of Hurricane KATRINA to rescue three persons on the stricken fishing vessel Mary Lynn located only 10 miles from the eye of Hurricane KATRINA and 210 miles southwest of Air Station Clearwater. Using outstanding navigation skills, while enduring weather induced nausea and vertigo, Lieutenant Junior Grade Sheppard bravely navigated the aircraft through the dangerous semi-circle of the hurricane, replete with rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, unpredictable, multi-directional wind gusts reaching 85 knots, and violent turbulence that frequently made the flight instruments impossible to read because of extreme aircraft buffeting, and located the Mary Lynn despite visibility of less than one quarter of a mile. Faced with multiple automated flight control discrepancies caused by the hurricane’s turbulence and affecting the stability altitude hold capabilities of CG 6019, Lieutenant Junior Grade Sheppard calmly and effectively analyzed each failure and applied the appropriate emergency procedures to rapidly return CG 6019 to its full operational capabilities. Demonstrating phenomenal Crew Resource Management, Lieutenant Junior Grade Sheppard provided imperative safety calls throughout the flight, keeping the Aircraft Commander apprised of altitude deviations, fuel state and proximity to obstacles. During a failed approach to the Mary Lynn, Lieutenant Junior Grade Sheppard quickly ascertained that CG 6019 was in a 30-knot left drift and immediately advised the Aircraft Commander to climb away from the water, preventing disaster. While on-scene with the Mary Lynn, Lieutenant Junior Grade Sheppard maintained continual communications with the crew of the vessel, providing a calming voice of reason, conveying exactly what steps they needed to take to ensure their survival Lieutenant Junior Grade Sheppard’s aeronautical skill and valor were instrumental in the rescue of three survivors. 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.