U.S. Coast Guard commends Captain Gerard Pannell for service on MERPAC

The U.S. Coast Guard presented the following Public Service Commendation on September 15 to Captain Gerard Pannell, who is the Director of Training at STAR Center.

The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard takes great pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Public Service Commendation to Captain Gerard C. Pannell for service as a member of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) beginning in July 2014. Captain Pannell served as the Chair of the Committee, beginning in March 2018, ensuring the business of MERPAC was conducted smoothly and facilitating multiple meetings each year. During this period, Captain Pannell was an active part of a diverse group of highly talented experts who provided outstanding recommendations to the Coast Guard on matters related to personnel in the merchant marine, including training qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness standards. During his tenure, the Committee provided sound, valuable recommendations on numerous rulemaking initiatives, associated policy projects and safety issues related to merchant vessel personnel activities. Specifically, his expertise, paired with his eagerness to ensure the goals of MERPAC were considered foremost, leading to recommendations submitted by the Committee that assisted the Coast Guard in its efforts to ensure maritime safety and improve the quality of the Merchant Mariner Credentialing program. Captain Pannell chaired MERPAC in an exemplary manner. He chaired a subcommittee for the review of credentialing regulations and policies to identify those that could be amended to reduce or eliminate the burden on industry. Additionally, he leveraged his expertise as a representative of training providers, chairing a subcommittee on the review of model courses that led to the development of recommendations, which became the basis of the United States position on model courses at the International Maritime Organization. Captain Pannell's dedication to MERPAC and his genuine willingness to work with the Coast Guard in promoting safety in the marine industry are heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.