The Cape May County Coast Guard Community Foundation Coast Guardsman award is presented to an active duty U.S. Coast Guard member who demonstrates exceptional leadership and devotion to duty. The Foundation has named Senior Chief Petty Officer Kellie Dean as this year’s recipient.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Kellie Dean, an 18 year veteran, serves as both the President of the Local Chapter of the Chief Petty Officers Association and the Chief of the Mess. She was instrumental in and worked tirelessly to establish ten food pantries for United States Coast Guard families. The necessity for these food pantries, located at Coast Guard Units in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Iowa, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, was brought on by the thirty-five day lapse in appropriations. Senior Chief Dean helped to collect over $100,000 in monetary and gift card donations along with hundreds of private donations of grocery and perishable items. Additionally, she planned and volunteered at Wednesday night dinners serving hundreds of local Coast Guard families providing free and nutritious meals for all. These dinners afforded the families a much needed respite from the stress of not receiving their scheduled paychecks. Her untiring work to coordinate volunteers, accept donations, and travel to local units to assist provided the model of leadership that proved inspirational for all local Coast Guardsmen, both junior and senior to follow.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Kellie Dean resides in Egg Harbor Township where she lives with her husband Shane and two daughters, Taryn and Kenna.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
