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Home / Academics / Academic Majors / Civil Engineering / Civil Engineering Featured Graduate: Tyler Wyndham Ashner

Tyler Wyndham Ashner

Class of 2009 B.S. Civil Engineering

Tyler Ashner has long known that he wanted to be an engineer. Passionate about the outdoors and environmental issues, he also “just kind of like to build things.” Tyler felt that becoming a civil engineer would give him the best opportunity to incorporate those passions into his work.

On his start in the Coast Guard

“I spent my first tour as an Engineer in Training (EIT) on CGC Dallas, a decommissioned 378’. For my first year onboard I served as the Division Officer for the Auxiliary Machinery Division. My second year was spent as the Damage Control Assistant and the Repair Division Officer. After attending graduate school, I spent my follow-up tour as an Asset Line Manager at CEU Miami.”

On his current career position

“I am a licensed Professional Engineer in the Engineering Services Department of Transtar, LLC, which is a subsidiary of United States Steel and operates the railroads at all of their steel mills. It’s a great job to have as a civil engineer because I get daily exposure to both design and analysis. My company’s roots pre-dates 1900 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where, for a time, our railroads distributed about 2/3 of the iron ore, coal, coke, and steel that was produced in the entire United States. Much of the original infrastructure from the turn of the century is still in operation so I get to see some really interesting designs that no longer exist in most of the country, which also presents unique challenges. Currently, I co-manage our structural inspections program, which includes 75 steel and concrete bridges and arches, and I’m currently managing several multi-million dollar projects including a public-private partnership project with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.”

On the advantage of graduate school

“I highly encourage graduate school as an option for Coast Guard engineers and specifically civil engineers. It’s an opportunity to zero in on a specific field within your discipline and study what most interests you. Many students will be like you in that they’ve worked for some time prior to graduate school. There is a lot to be gained from working with a diverse group of engineers that have networks and field experience in the civilian sector.”

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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

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