June 11, 2002 – Coast Guard Chief Electronics Petty Officer Flavel Blyden was commissioned as an Electronics Chief Warrant Officer on June 1, 2002.
In a commissioning ceremony, Coast Guard Commander Austin F. Callwood, also a Virgin Islander, welcomed guests, gave Blyden his oath of office, and presented him with the U.S President's Award. Blyden's wife, the former Cheryl D. Hector of St. Thomas, and their two children, Flavel III and Jamal, were in attendance during the commissioning.
After the ceremony, Cmdr. Callwood said, "I truly believe the Coast Guard is a wonderful organization for our young people to get their feet wet in a patriotic service for their country, … as a means of obtaining technical and other professional skills, and gaining exposure to many different parts of the country, its people and cultures."
Blyden competed against several hundred electronics technician for promotion to warrant officer and placed number 23 on the promotion list. "I was a chief for only ten months," Blyden said. "This is the fastest rank I have made in my career."
He is now at the Chief Warrant Officer Indoctrination School at the Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn. Upon completion of school he will be assigned to the Coast Guard Command and Control Systems, Electronics in Portsmouth, Va., where he will be working with Differential Global Positioning Systems.
Blyden's last assignment was at Electronics Systems Support Detachment Mayport, Jacksonville, Fla. As Executive Chief Petty Officer, his primary duties involved the supervision of personnel and direct maintenance of U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) electronics equipment, computer systems, and telecommunications equipment. Additionally, he coordinated electronic support for three Search and Rescue stations, two patrol boats, two Aids to Navigation Teams, Marine Safety Office, Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Ten, USCG Nationwide Differential Global Positioning site, Long Range Aids to Navigation (monitor site, and eight VHF/HF National Distress System sites and managed a $60,000 budget.
Earlier he had served aboard U.S. Coast Guard cutter Confidence out of Port Canaveral, Fla.; at ESU Detachment San Juan, P.R.; and aboard the cutter Forward out of Portsmouth, Va. Prior to these assignments he attended US Navy ET C-7 Advanced Electronics School, San Diego, California.
Awards earned during his assignments include two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, three Commandant's Letter of Commendations, five Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals, Coast Guard Sea Service with two bronze stars, Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star and twice Sailor of the Year.
Blyden is the son of Beryl Blyden and the late Flavel Sr. of St. Thomas. He is a native of St. Thomas and a 1979 graduate of All Saints School.
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