The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal to Master Chief Petty Officer Franklin A. Welch, United States Coast Guard, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard from October 2002 to June 2006, culminating over 26 years of selfless service to the Nation. His superior insights on leadership, command relationships, and management effectiveness made him a most valued advisor to the Commandant of the Coast Guard as well as the Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff and unit commands throughout the Coast Guard. Master Chief Welch’s highly respected counsel on enlisted personnel issues helped shape personnel policies and had a direct impact on the Coast Guard’s budget and sustained retention and re-enlistment rates. Master Chief Welch maintained an ongoing dialogue with Coast Guard enlisted personnel by visiting more than 200 units both domestically and overseas. He championed the implementation of the Enlisted Professional Military Education program, replacing outdated Military Requirements function with a holistic educational system consisting of professional development, knowledge and tools for enlisted members. Master Chief Welch worked with senior Coast Guard leadership to revamp the Coast Guard weight standards and physical fitness policy, improving service-wide readiness. He strongly advocated for the assignment of Command Master Chiefs at newly established Coast Guard Sectors, reinforcing the importance of the unified command structure and the centrality of personnel issues to successful service delivery. Master Chief Welch was a driving force in the establishment of the Coast Guard’s Senior Enlisted Command Master Chief Course and worked to ensure senior Coast Guard enlisted personnel were included in the Joint Services Keystone Course and other Department of Defense senior enlisted courses. Master Chief Welch’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.