Home / Academics / Academic Majors / Management / Management Featured Graduate: Christen Shih

Lieutenant Commander Christen Shih

Class of 2012 B.S. Management, MBA, MSIS, GCCM

LCDR Chris Shih currently serves as the assistant department head in the United States Coast Guard Academy’s Management Department. He instructs both Management and Cyber classes, is an advisor to multiple affinity groups and cadet clubs, and coaches the Academy’s boxing team.

On the breadth of his education

“When studying Management at the Academy, I enjoyed the number of different classes we were able to choose from as students. We were able to spread our studies across many fields – from accounting to IT to project management – as well as take many electives. A diverse education is very beneficial in an undergraduate degree.”

On a diverse faculty

“The backgrounds of the professors were also diverse. I liked having both Coast Guard officers and civilians as instructors – each offered different perspectives not just on school but life as well. It is amazing how the dialogue I had with my teachers years ago continues to have an effect on the officer I am today.”

On managing his own growth

“One of the lessons I’ve carried from the Management program is to continually seek to evolve as an officer and as a leader. The program ingrained in me the need to continually assess my performance, to reinforce my strengths while shoring up my weaknesses.”

On leadership preparation

“The Management program does an excellent job of preparing cadets in developing their leadership early. Being a leader can be natural to some but for most it isn’t easy, and I believe the Management major allows for its cadets to really get a jump-start when it comes to leadership.”

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.