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Home / Academics / Academic Majors / Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering / Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Featured Cadet: Joe Sagan

Joe Sagan

Columbia, NJ – Class of 2018 Major: Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

When Joe Sagan started looking at colleges, he realized he didn’t want the typical college experience. He wanted something unique, and the military academies, and in particular the Coast Guard Academy, fit that description.

On choosing the USCGA

“I chose the Coast Guard Academy, because the service is more humanitarian in nature than the others, and it is easy to see the results of your work. To this day, I know I made the right choice.”

On selecting a major

“Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering was an obvious choice of major for me. I realized not only will there be a constant need for ship designers, but it would be beneficial to understand exactly how the ships, that I will be aboard throughout my career, operate.”

On the rigor and support

“While the classes in the major can be difficult, there is always a vast support network available. NA&ME students and instructors are friendly and willing to help if you are struggling. This is definitely one of the most close-knit majors because of the small size.”

On the value of NA&ME

“A background in NA&ME is a valuable skill to have in the Coast Guard. Whether it’s for inspections of commercial vessels, acquisition of new Coast Guard cutters, or even just day-to-day operation aboard an underway cutter, it is a major that will prepare you well.”

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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