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Jillian Stuckey

Glen Allen, VA – Class of 2020 Major: Civil Engineering

Jillian always knew that she wanted to be an engineer and to help people, so attending the Coast Guard Academy as an engineering major was the perfect fit! She never thought of Civil Engineering until she came here, but is now very excited to continue her journey focusing on environmental engineering in the Coast Guard.

On unsurpassed faculty

“The Civil Engineering faculty is unparalleled to the rest. I came in to the USCGA as a mechanical engineer, but would spend hours in the civil faculty common space 4/c year. From explaining concepts to simply asking how my day was, there was always someone there to help. They also bring real-life experiences with them to the Academy, sharing their stories of applying what we learn here to the Coast Guard. The teachers make this major great!”

On the academic rigors of Civil Engineering

“The major is very challenging, but I came to the Academy to be challenged, learn, and grow. However, here’s a secret: there is a pattern to the classes: the first part of the semester is always difficult, but then you not only learn the material, but learning new material becomes easier. This is because the lectures build off one another and everything connects like…well, a machine.”

On problem solving

“Although civil engineering is tough, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Officers with an undergraduate in civil engineering have one of the highest acceptances into Master’s programs and there will always be a need for civil engineers in the Coast Guard. However, I would say one of the biggest benefits is that civil engineering teaches you how to problem solve, which is necessary as a Coast Guard Officer, even if you don’t pursue engineering past the Academy.”

Sponsor Family Application

Thank you for submitting your application to be part of the Sponsor Family Program. Your application will be processed in the upcoming week. Coast Guard Academy’s policy on background screening now requires all adults (everyone 18 and older living in the home) who volunteer to mentor, teach, coach or sponsor cadets, whether on or off Coast Guard Academy grounds, to be screened every 5 years. They are required to provide personal information (name, birth date and social security number) for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check.

The Security Officer at the Coast Guard Academy, CWO2 Gina Polkowski, is overseeing this process. Her email is: Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.

Sponsor Family designations fall into several different categories. Below are the guidelines to help you determine how best to meet the background screening requirement:

If you are Coast Guard active duty you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are a Civilian working for the Coast Guard you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are non-Coast Guard Active Duty, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
If you are non-Coast Guard civilian who has a current security clearance or National Agency check, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
All civilians in the families who are 18 years or older and do not have a security clearance or a National Agency Check are required to be vetted through Mind Your Business, the third party vendor hired by the Coast Guard Academy for the vetting process.

After you complete your application, please e-mail the Sponsor Family Program Coordinator at CadetFamilySponsorProgram@uscga.edu. In your e-mail, you must include the e-mail address and phone number of every adult living in the home. The Sponsor Family Coordinator will then initiate the background check process and you will receive an email with further instructions.

Important things to note:

There is a Sponsor Family Training that is a one-hour training which we ask sponsors to attend once every four years. This training is designed to give you an overview of the program, what is expected of you as a sponsor, and what you can expect from your cadets. This training will also help familiarize you with the cadet regulations onboard CGA. You will be notified via e-mail once the training is scheduled.

The matching process of swabs to families will occur during July and August. Please bear with us and remain flexible through this process. There will be a meet and greet scheduled on Campus, typically in late August. This will give families an opportunity to formally meet their cadet if they have not already done so. Details on this will also be via email.