COA offers a few awards each year. We encourage members like you to nominate outstanding individuals and Local Branches for the following awards. The deadline for all award nominations is March 1, 2022 at 5 pm ET.

Health Leader of the Year
Recognizes individuals who have made notable contributions to the health of the Nation. Click here for more information.

Local Branch of the Year
Recognizes the exceptional accomplishments of our Local Branches. Each year, a Large Local Branch (more than 60 members) and a Small Local Branch (fewer than 60 members) are recognized with Branch of the Year awards. Click here for more information.

Local Branch Leader of the Year
Recognizes excellence in contributions to the COA local branch, service to the Association, and to the members thereof; this award will be presented at the annual COF conference or its equivalent.  Click here for more information.

Local Branch Member of the Year
Recognizes excellence in contributions to the COA local branch, service to the Association, and to the members thereof; this award will be presented at the annual COF conference or its equivalent.  Click here for more information.

Civilian Outstanding Support of the USPHS
Presented to those civilian (individuals and/or groups) who have distinguished themselves in service to the Commissioned Corps. Click here for more information.

Retiree of the Year
Recognizes excellence in continued service and contributions beyond active duty or government civilian service to the Association, PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation, and to the members of COA. Click here for more information.

Congressional Public Health Leadership
Recognizes Members of Congress for outstanding efforts in support of issues affecting the public's health and/or the Commissioned Corps. Click here for more information.

2023 Local Branch Member of the Year Award

 

 

Background

The Commissioned Officers Association (COA) Board of Directors recognizes the exceptional accomplishments of our local branches each year. The accomplishments of each branch are due in part to the dedication of members doing the work within their respective local branches. The Local Branch Member of the Year recognizes excellence in contributions to the COA local branch, service to COA, and its membership that occurred in the previous operational year prior to the award nomination deadline. This award will be presented at the annual COF conference (e.g., in-person or virtually). This award was established to recognize outstanding members within a COA local branch. One Local Branch Member of the Year will be selected nationally from a pool of nominees; each COA local branch may submit one nominee for consideration.

Nominations

Nominations are closed. 

Eligibility

The nominee must be an active member of a COA local branch as defined by the branch charter and bylaws. The nominee must NOT be a current member of the Executive Committee (e.g., President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer) during the respective awards cycle. The nominee must not have received the award in the previous awards cycle. Note: The nominee can include retired officers if they meet the eligibility and nomination criteria requirements. Membership in COA is a requirement for nomination.

Nomination Criteria

Individuals considered will include any active member of a COA local branch who is NOT a current member of the local branch Executive Committee. COA local branch members nominated for this award must demonstrate how they assisted in furthering the mission of COA through facilitating and/or promoting local branch activities. Nominations must address how the nominee encouraged one or all of the following criteria:

Fostered COA local branch membership, served in a leadership role within the branch (e.g., chaired or co-chaired subcommittees or workgroups), demonstrated excellent meeting attendance and participated in branch activities or spearheaded branch activities or community outreach/volunteer events, etc.).

Promoted mentoring/career counseling (e.g., organized branch sponsored curriculum vitae review, assigned mentors & mentees to officers going to the promotion board, provided career guidance, facilitate mentoring workshops, etc.)

Facilitated social and/or volunteer activities to promote esprit de corps and foster relationships amongst local branch members (i.e., encouraged activities to promote officers, retirees, and/or associated family members for the good of the community; facilitated meet & greets, promotion ceremonies, retirement ceremonies, community outreach activities, etc.)

The COA local branch will select one nominee for consideration for the Local Branch Member of the Year award.

Nominator Requirements:

Nominator must be a member in good standing of the same COA local branch as the nominee or of another COA local branch with strong affiliations to the nominee’s COA local branch. Self-nominations are accepted.

Nomination deadline for COA Local Branch nominee:

March 1st of each year.