THE AMERICAN SOCIETY
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Lieutenant Commander Paradise’s exemplary accomplishments while serving as Project Officer for the Coast Guard’s 210 foot and 270 foot Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC) Mission Effectiveness Project (MEP) have significantly improved the operational readiness of our maritime forces. The MEP is the largest ship repair program in Coast Guard history, and Lieutenant Commander Paradise has demonstrated exceptional leadership and has been vital to the success of this project.
Lieutenant Commander Paradise is responsible for the development and delivery of over 50 Engineering Changes for the 210 and 270 foot cutters involved in the largest repair program in the history of the Coast Guard’s Naval Engineering program. The MEP is a ten year, 300 million dollar project to sustain the operational capability of twenty-seven WMECs for the next fifteen years. Lieutenant Commander Paradise’s aggressive attention to detail and skillful management directed dozens of engineers, logisticians and contracted support personnel to publish twenty engineering changes and prototype nineteen others – each of which consumed hundreds of hours.
Directly managing the contracting, funding, purchasing and delivery of over twenty million dollars in material and equipment for MEP availabilities, Lieutenant Commander Paradise developed and tracked over seventy Project Orders to the Coast Guard Yard for engineering and production, oversaw installation of over fifty new engineering systems, and participated in the award of ten major requirements contracts for equipment. This significant accomplishment played a major role in seven MEP availabilities being completed on time and on budget.
As a testament to the MEP’s success, after action reports from cutters completed under Lieutenant Commander Paradise’s direction as Project Office noted a tremendous improvement in operational capability and reduced maintenance requirements resulting from newly installed engineering changes. Lieutenant Commander Paradise’s tireless efforts and achievements serve as outstanding examples for Fleet Engineers throughout the sea services.
Exceptional planning, rapid production of new engineering systems and flexibility have made the MEP program extremely successful and Lieutenant Commander Paradise’s outstanding leadership, drive, and organizational skills have played a large part in that success. He has truly demonstrated the finest of naval engineering support emblematic of the Admiral Claud A. Jones Award.