The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal to Admiral John Briggs Hayes, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from June 1978 to September 1980. Demonstrating inspiring and dynamic leadership, Admiral Hayes guided the Service through numerous extraordinary operations, including the particularly sensitive enforcement of the Boldt decision in the Northwest salmon fisheries and the exodus of Haitian and Cuban refugees. Faced with missions of increasing requirements, an austere budget, and the decreasing attractiveness of Service life, Admiral Hayes quickly sought to identify and verify service wide conditions and factors affecting the retention of personnel. In this endeavor, his first major policy decision was to remove all barriers to equal employment of women in the military structure, which put the Coast Guard in the forefront in this EEO area. He also worked tirelessly and effectively to develop and implement a series of actions that improved the general welfare of the Coast Guard, the quality of life of its people and their dependents, and the condition and mission capability of the Service’s physical plant. Perceiving that the regulatory process was inherently inflationary, Admiral Hayes committed the Coast Guard to recognize the economic impact of proposed rules in the decision-making process. Recognizing the need for an aggressive energy conservation program, he directed the development of energy efficient operating rules for aircraft and vessels, and the consolidation of his Headquarters staff at a central location and the concurrent adoption of a compressed work week program. Assuming a position of leadership in national affairs, Admiral Hayes brought together in a regular forum the principal officials concerned with executing national ocean related programs to better coordinate agency activities and provide a mechanism to influence the formulation of national ocean policy. An extremely adept diplomat, Admiral Hayes headed the U.S. delegation to the 1979 Assembly of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization, and ably chaired two major sub-committees of the U.S. Shipping Coordinating Committee. Sensing that the Coast Guard could become an effective instrument for international cooperation and U. S. foreign policy, Admiral Hayes visited the major maritime nations in the Caribbean, Latin America and the Western Pacific. These efforts have resulted in the Coast Guard fast becoming a role model for coastal and maritime nations of the developing world, and many new cooperative multi-national initiatives in maritime law enforcement, Marine environmental protection, and safety at sea have either become a reality or show great promise. Admiral Hayes’ unwavering devotion to duty, loyal and distinguished service and achievements reflect the highest credit upon himself, the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Transportation.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal to Admiral John Briggs Hayes, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States from October 1980 to May 1982 as Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard. During this period, Admiral Hayes led the Coast Guard with wisdom, tact and determination through one of the most difficult budget cycles in recent times. His energy, optimism and natural leadership ability were standards around which the entire Service could rally. Using skills developed 20 years before, Admiral Hayes initiated a second Coast Guard Roles and Missions Study that will chart a course for the Service to follow long after his term as Commandant has expired. Admiral Hayes’ complete mastery of the concepts of modern management resulted in an efficiently run Coast Guard organization, respected throughout government and industry for its quality services. In a time of changing national priorities, Admiral Hayes clearly defined the basic character of the Coast Guard in its traditional seagoing expertise, military nature and multi-mission character, focused in peacetime on the humanitarian role of protection of life and property at sea. Under Admiral Hayes’ guidance, Coast Guard relations were solidified with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Formulation of the Navy-Coast Guard (NVVGARD) Board, the first formal planning and policy coordinating mechanist between the two Services, resulted in a significantly increased National Security posture. Recognition of the Coast Guard as a naval force-in-being was once again achieved. Admiral Hayes initiatives established a significant role for the Coast Guard in the Caribbean Basin, in support of foreign policy objectives. Despite his distinguished position, Admiral Hayes never lost sight of the working Coast Guardsman. Throughout his term, his first consideration was always the quality of life for Coast Guard personnel and their dependents. Admiral Hayes’ unwavering devotion to duty and loyal and distinguished service, and achievements, reflect the highest credit upon himself, the United States Coast Guard, and the Department of Transportation.