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ENS Brianna Nelson

Brianna Nelson

My transition from high school to the Coast Guard Academy was challenging as this was my first time being away from home in Centreville, VA. I attended AIM so that helped me prepare for what I was getting myself into. I was fortunate enough to share the Academy experience with my sisters, which helped ease my transition! I was a 4/c when my older sister was a 1/c. I’ve always looked up to her throughout high school/college and still do to this day. She played the unique role as my sister, best friend, and mentor all in one. I still ask her questions to this day when I need help or information on something. She introduced me to several close mentors I had at the Academy and introduced me to APAC (Asian Pacific American Council), which became a huge part of my Academy experience and the reason why I am an AMOT mentor today. I also spent two years at the Academy with my younger sister, which I also loved.

I love running and biking and being outdoors. I participated in the Triathlon and Running Clubs at the Academy. Currently stationed in Washington, D.C., I’ve met some friends in the area who I play pickleball with, which is another fun and casual activity I enjoy. I’ve loved being able to cook my own food and host small dinner parties with friends. Although being a new ENS in a new area with a new job can be scary and lonely at times, I’ve really embraced the independence of living on my own. It can be hard to balance a new job with making friends and having a social life, but if it’s something you prioritize it is definitely doable.

I love outreach and talking with cadets at the Academy about CGCYBER. I am currently one of the CGA Liaison’s at CGCYBER and help coordinate cadet visits and general outreach to the Academy. I enjoy talking about what I do and helping other cadets learn about CGCYBER. If anyone wants to learn more about CGCYBER or the Academy in general, please feel free to reach out to me.

Contact Information

ENS Brianna Nelson
Phone: (703) 869-3577
Email: Brianna.M.Nelson@uscg.mil

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.