Home / Academics / Academic Majors / Civil Engineering / Civil Engineering Featured Cadet: Landon Klopfenstein

Landon Klopfenstein

Oviedo, FL – Class of 2019 Major: Civil Engineering

Landon’s passion for problem-solving and creative-thinking led him to pursue a degree in engineering. At first, Landon was unsure which engineering discipline he wanted to study, but with the help of both the Academy faculty and upper-class cadets, he decided that he was best suited for Civil Engineering.

On faculty expertise

“I chose the Civil Engineering field because of its reputation as a community of talented and hard-working individuals. The Civil Engineering faculty and staff at the Coast Guard Academy are subject matter experts that have worked for many years in the civil engineering field. They have real-world experience and knowledge that translates directly into their teaching and makes for an in depth learning experience that puts the Coast Guard Academy Civil Engineering program above the rest.”

On real-world classroom experiences

“The major is mentally and academically challenging but it is well worth it. Classes are interactive and we’re constantly learning new material that is directly applicable to real-world civil engineering. In fact, a majority of our learning is hands-on; I spend just as much time getting my hands and uniform dirty in the Civil Engineering lab as I do learning in the classroom.”

On post-graduation opportunities

“After graduation I want to go to flight school and hope to fly the MH-60T aircraft. During my 1/c cadet summer at Air Station Elizabeth City I met multiple pilots that were Civil Engineering students at the Coast Guard Academy. One of the many advantages of being a Civil Engineering student is the network of Civil Engineers in the Coast Guard with diverse backgrounds and careers.”

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.