Congratulations to Auxiliarist Chester “Chet” L. Williams, who was recently named 2022 Auxiliarist of the Year. Williams is a member of Seventeenth Coast Guard District’s Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 2-4, out of Whittier, Alaska.
Williams joined the Auxiliary in 2020 and has since served in various leadership positions, earning this award through an impressive 10% increase in Auxiliarist enrollment in the Fourteenth and Seventeenth Districts, while also leveraging his civilian career experience to help develop Auxiliary Administrative Investigations Directorate procedures.
Since enrolling in the Auxiliary, Williams has volunteered to serve as Auxiliary flotilla commander, division commander and district staff officer for human resources. It was his work as the Seventeenth District’s staff officer for human resources where he made the greatest impact in 2022.
Williams developed innovative processes — like virtual citizenship verification and expedited core training completion — that enhanced the enrollment and orientation experience for new Auxiliarists. Increased enrollment numbers were the direct result of his role as national human resources chief, where he learned mentoring and recruiting tools to promote the service.
“Chet Williams’ extraordinary leadership and relentless commitment to the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s missions have completely revolutionized the recruitment and qualification process, dramatically boosting the number of new Auxiliarists,” said Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Schleck, Seventeenth District Director of Auxiliary. “His boundless energy and deep-seated passion for community service are truly inspirational, driving meaningful and profound impacts both within the organization and the wider community.”
Williams also used his expertise as a criminal investigator to help the newly formed Auxiliary Administrative Investigations Directorate develop its foundational procedures.
In his local community, Williams is committed to helping improve the lives of others. He used skills gained at the Auxiliary Culinary Assistance training program to volunteer at a neighborhood food shelter, where he prepared meals and shared information about Coast Guard programs to potential recruits.
Williams will be formally recognized as the 2022 Auxiliarist of the Year at the Auxiliary National Conference in Orlando, Florida on Aug. 19.
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