A Fire In Ice by U.S.
Coast Guard PO3 Diolanda Caballero
February 28, 2022
“I really love the ocean,” she said. “I
also love science. I was caught between two roads when I joined the
Coast Guard. I knew I wouldn’t be able to do as much science as I
did in college when I commissioned.”
As a teenager, Coast
Guard Lt. j.g. Lauren Kowalski, assistant operations officer aboard
Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10), began looking into the
military after her sophomore year of high school; it seemed natural
to her as she came from a military family.
Upon completing OCS and reporting to
a 210-foot medium endurance cutter, Kowalski was able to keep her
love for the ocean close, but the fire in her love for science
burned a little less bright as work on the cutter began.
Despite her belief that she may not be
able to do the science she hoped to, Kowalski found her new fire
.... ice breaking. U.S. Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Lauren Kowalski, assistant operations officer aboard Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10),
enjoying ice liberty during the cutter's transit towards
Antarctica on January 7, 2022. Kowalski is the recipient of the Hopley Yeaton Superior Cutterman of the Year Award and was selected for her efforts in the ice pilot program, which saw her deploy aboard several U.S. Coast Guard and Royal British Navy icebreakers. (U.S. Coast Guard
photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Diolanda Caballero)
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Unsurprisingly, Kowalski gravitated to the
sea-going services. The Coast Guard’s eleven missions intrigued her
and ultimately led to her perusing Officer Candidate School after
graduating with her degree in Oceanography from the University of
Washington in Seattle.
Upon completing OCS and reporting to
a 210-foot medium endurance cutter, Kowalski was able to keep her
love for the ocean close, but the fire in her love for science
burned a little less bright as work on the cutter began.
Despite her belief that she may not be
able to do the science she hoped to, Kowalski found her new fire
.... ice
breaking. Kowalski’s sacrifice and dedication to service led her to
become the first officer to complete the Coast Guard’s Afloat
Icebreaker Training Program and to be the commissioned recipient of
the 2021 Hopley Yeaton Superior Cutterman Award.
As an
ensign aboard Coast Guard Cutter Dependable (WMEC 626), located in
Virginia Beach, Virginia, Kowalski learned that although law
enforcement was interesting, it wasn’t for her. One day, she learned
about Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB 20) and the purpose Healy
served. She was ecstatic. The medium ice breaker facilitated
scientific research and became the answer to her wanting to combine
both her career in the Coast Guard and her love for science.
Kowalski immediately made it known to her command that she was
interested in ice breaking. To her surprise, her operations officer,
Lt. Cmdr. Robert Litts, knew the commanding officer of Coast Guard
Cutter Katmai Bay (WTGB-101) and allowed Kowalski to temporarily
embed with the cutter.
Her initial exposure to ice breaking
on the Katmai Bay ignited a flame.
“I was in such awe,” said
Kowalski. “Ice breaking is just so incredible! I don’t think I’ll
ever get tired of it.”
Upon her return to Dependable,
Kowalski continued to make it clear that she wanted to be on the
Healy. Unfortunately, she was unable to take the assignment during
her rotation year, but a different opportunity arose.
Kowalski was picked up for the Afloat Icebreaker Training Program,
which allowed her to go on several of the Coast Guard’s ice breaking
platforms. She was the second officer to be picked up in the
program’s history and to first to complete it. The mission of the
AITP is to create more ice pilots as the Coast Guard begins to
recapitalize its polar icebreaker fleet.
In 2020-2021,
Kowalski was constantly underway. She traveled on board Coast Guard
Cutters Mackinaw (WLBB 30), Healy, and Polar Star. Kowalski quickly
learned the ropes to breaking ice on each platform. However, it was
on Polar Star where she was granted the opportunity to embed with
Her Majesty’s Ship Protector, a Royal British Navy icebreaker.
The opportunity arose near the end of Polar Star’s Arctic West
Winter 2021 deployment. Polar Star hosted two Royal British Naval
officers during the deployment. The captain of the Protector
extended an invitation to the Polar Star to take a crewmember with
them on their next deployment. Kowalski pushed herself into taking
the opportunity and with the help of the Polar Star’s commanding
officer, she deployed with Protector within weeks.
Kowalski
spent 2 months on board Protector. She easily integrated with the
crew and was rapt with the amount of confidence the crew of
Protector had in her. While on board she stood watch and did just as
much icebreaking as she did on the Coast Guard’s platforms.
Within a week of her return from the Protector, she took over as the
assistant operations officer onboard Polar Star and hit the ground
running.
She was away from home for nearly 300 days, and her
sacrifice did not go unnoticed. She was selected as the commissioned
Superior Cutterman of the Year. The selection panel for the Hopley
Yeaton award comprised 61 active duty and retired permanent
cuttermen with a combined 604 years of sea time. Kowalski’s
nomination cites her professionalism, dedication to the Polar Star’s
crew, and superior efforts during her time in AITP.
“I feel
extremely humbled,” said Kowalski. “I felt as if I was too junior
[in rank] to receive such an award.”
Professionally and
personally, Kowalski’s experience in AITP made her an improved
mentor and leader. Today, Kowalski continues to lead with the same
poise and compassion noted in her nomination. She remains dedicated
to the crew of Polar Star as a victim’s advocate and a Leadership
Diversity Advisory Counsel chair and mentor.
In Kowalski’s
eyes, she owes her success to a supportive command and a great
support system at home. Her philosophy is to be there for her people
the same way her commands have always been for her.
In the
future, Kowalski aims to complete a master’s degree in Antarctic
Studies. She hopes to one day serve in the Coast Guard’s
Oceanography billet and continue supporting the Coast Guard’s
Antarctic mission.
“I didn’t ask for opportunities,” said
Kowalski. “They just presented themselves or were presented to me
because of me expressing interest. If there are things you want to
do in the Coast Guard, do not be afraid to ask. Find what lights
your fire the way ice breaking lights mine.”
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