The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Alan M. Steinman, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Chief, Wellness Programs Branch, Operational Medicine Division, Office of Health and Safety, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters from January 1991 to June 1993. During this period, Captain Steinman planned, developed, and placed into operation the Coast Guard’s first service-wide Wellness Program, stressing health promotion and disease prevention. Employing the principles of Total Quality Management, he surveyed customer expectations and needs, and tailored a voluntary program that derives its greatest strength from local initiative and motivation at the unit level. Captain Steinman’s efforts have had a major impact on the health and well being of the Coast Guard family, as evidenced by an unprecedented 30 percent decline in smoking among active duty personnel. Captain Steinman successfully integrated wellness education into the curricula of all accession points, training centers, the Chief Petty Officer’s Academy, and the Military Requirements for Advancement in paygrades E-3 through E-7. He established a Wellness Program Specialist corps of dedicated and highly motivated enlisted, officer, and civilian personnel. He developed the weekly Wellness Bulletin, a popular and widely read newsletter to promote healthy living. Captain Steinman performed an invaluable public health service for the Coast Guard family. The early successes of the Wellness Program served as a model for our sister services. Through Captain Steinman’s efforts, the Coast Guard has begun to effectively transition from a disease based health care delivery system to a preventive medicine based system that gives its individual members and their families, a stake in their own health and health care by providing them the knowledge to practice healthier habits and lifestyles. Captain Steinman’s ability, diligence, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Public Health Service and the United States Coast Guard.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
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Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
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Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Service:
United States Coast GuardRank:
Rear AdmiralAction Date:
July 1993 – July 1997
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral Alan M. Steinman, 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 of Health and Safety, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, from July 1993 to July 1997. Rear Admiral Steinman sagely guided the Coast Guard health care delivery system to maturity, and through internal and external accreditation, improved the quality of care in Coast Guard clinics, such that patient satisfaction is at the highest level ever. Rear Admiral Steinman’s proactive leadership was critical in enabling full Coast Guard partnership in the Department of Defense’s plans to launch its new managed health care plan, TRICARE. Demonstrating astute foresight, he ensured that the American Medical Association’s “Guide to you Family’s Symptoms” was provided to all Coast Guard active duty members, Reservists, and civilian personnel. This initiative provided health care beneficiaries with a comprehensive self-care medical reference, and concurrently avoided unnecessary health care costs. Rear Admiral Steinman was the catalyst behind the transfer of the Food Service program to the Health Services program, wherein he integrated wellness and nutrition initiatives into food preparation and advocated significantly improved training opportunities and professionalism in the Food Service Specialist rating. As the chief proponent for safety in the Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Steinman actively championed significant system modifications to aircraft and vessels to eliminate identified safety hazards. He defined measurement criteria to objectively evaluate the safety of Coast Guard vessel and aircraft operations, and exported that training to the international maritime arena. Overall, his direct efforts in the health and safety arena saved lives, minimized damage, and provided healthier living conditions. The result is a Coast Guard work force that is safer and healthier than ever before. Rear Admiral Steinman’s leadership, dedication, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.