April 24, 2019 / United States Coast Guard names Vincennes University
grad Enlisted Person of the Year
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Petty Officer Jakob R. Blass,
Clearwater, Fla., has been named by the United States Coast Guard as
its 2018 Enlisted Person of the Year in the Active Duty Component.
Blass graduated from VU with a baccalaureate degree in Homeland
Security in December 2018.
Blass currently serves as a tactical coxswain at Station Port
Canaveral. While serving as Officer of the Day during Operation Shrimp
and Grits, a multi-agency collaborative effort promoting boating
safety and maritime domain awareness, BM3 Blass was instrumental in
the coordination of multiple Coast Guard assets. This operation
yielded numerous notices of violations, vessel terminations for safety
reasons, and the detention and arrest of an undocumented alien with an
extensive criminal history.
During the historical launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket
and simultaneous landing of two Falcon 9 boosters, an event that drew
more than 100,000 visitors and 150 spectator vessels to Florida's
Space Coast, he was instrumental in ensuring vessels were safe and out
of the hazardous operational area.
As the Partnership in Education coordinator, he taught 14
classes through the Junior Achievement Program at two local schools,
focusing on the fundamentals of sound decision-making. Additionally,
as the Continuing Education Petty Officer, he assisted members in
applying for tuition assistance, resulting in four shipmates earning
their associate of arts degrees.
Along with his duties, BM3 Blass was recently accepted into the
Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology Program at Argosy University.
Petty Officer Blass will be recognized in a ceremony in
Washington DC on April 25.
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Vincennes University Newsroom
VICKIE PUFFER, Communications Coordinator & Online Newsroom
Manager
812-888-4162 office, 812-887-4635 cell,
VUNews@vinu.edu, vpuffer@vinu.edu
MARCIA MARTINEZ, University
Life Reporter & Sports Information Director
812-888-4164
office, 314-599-1519 cell, VUNews@vinu.edu, mmartinez@vinu.edu
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY, Department of University Relations, www.vinu.edu/newsroom