Home / Academics / Academic Majors / Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering / Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Featured Cadet: Dakota Richter

Dakota Richter

Crestview Hills, KY – Class of 2018 Major: Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

In junior high school Dakota Richter set her heart on attending a federal service academy. She wanted to both serve her country and be mentally and physically challenged throughout her college years. Ultimately, it was tales from alumni and the Coast Guard’s mission that steered her to Academy.

On choosing her major

“My first year at the Academy I heard a lot about the Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering major – namely that it was ridiculously challenging but equally rewarding, both as a cadet and as a Coast Guard officer. Both the challenge and the reward appealed to me.”

On NA&ME’s career preparation

“The best skills that I have gained from being a NA&ME major are critical thinking, time management and learning when to ask for help. Balancing the NA&ME academic workload with club activities and military obligations is difficult, so finding the balance between figuring things out on your own and asking for advice from others is so useful.”

On the NA&ME faculty

“Hands down, the NA&ME faculty are the greatest collective on campus. I have received so much help from my instructors in the past three years on subjects that extend far beyond homework assignments. Whether it’s to borrow a calculator or sort out mid-cadet-career crises, their doors are always open.”

On active hands-on projects

“As 2/c ‘Nav Arch’ students we have two hands-on projects: the ‘Great Boat Race’ and the ‘Sinking Barge.’ Both involve teams of cadets working in the Power Lab to create the fastest and sturdiest vessels imaginable. Both the successes and heartbreaks of these two projects lead to a greater appreciation for the material we learn in the major.”

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.