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Home / Academics / Academic Majors / Operations Research & Data Analytics / Operations Research & Data Analytics Featured Cadet: Jacob Haw

Jacob Haw

Ridgecrest, California – Class of 2020
Major: Operations Research and Data Analytics
 Jacob knew he wanted something in the STEM field, but after an honorable defeat against Statics and Engineering Design his 4/c year, he decided the E in Stem was not for him. After talking to the ORDA faculty and cadets, he was surprised to hear nothing but great things about the major, so he switched majors and has not looked back since.

On the rigors of ORDA

“It’s a piece of cake. German Chocolate, cheesecake, Yellowcake Uranium, pick your poison. As with all things, success in ORDA depends on how much work you are willing to put in to understand the concepts and time management. There definitely have been long nights spent just answering two or three “simple” math questions for Network and Nonlinear Optimization or trying to debug my code for Computer Modeling Languages.”

On the applied learning aspect of this major

“The beauty of ORDA is that there are no labs! That’s why it’s often called the hidden gem of the Academy. The extent of my hands-on learning is when I put a pencil in my hands to take notes or type on my computer at an impressive 39 words per minute (T. rex speed according to the website I used).”

On leadership opportunities

“I am the historian for the Asian Pacific American Council (APAC), and it has been one of the best opportunities for growth I have experienced. Being on the APAC board has enabled me to see the inner workings of the Academy, plan overnight trips, and attend once-in-a-lifetime events. If someone told me a year ago that I would fly to Vegas to be guest speaker for the Filipino-American Law Enforcement Organization or organize trips during a government shutdown (among other opportunities), I would think that they were a fibber.” “I am also one of three original Satterlee Hall Duty Officers. We are tasked with safety and integrity of Satterlee Hall and its occupants. Every day we go on rounds of the teachers’ offices to see how they are holding up. ORDA is a family and we look out for each other.”

On the benefits of ORDA

“My teachers, of course. They are a complete joy to be around. I have no doubt that the faculty in the Math Department is the most competent group of teachers and mathematicians on this side of Mississippi. Their doors are always open, inviting you in to ask questions you may have about the material, or to offer a friendly ear if you have personal problems. They not only care about us as math students, but they want us to grow as decent human beings. When they ask how your day is going, they actually want to know.”
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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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