VPA Police Captain Earns US Coast Guard Reserve’s Highest Annual Honor

March 4, 2008 | VACP

VACP member Capt. Monty Willaford of the Virginia Port Authority Police named Outstanding Junior Officer for 2007.

NORFOLK, VA – The U.S. Coast Guard Reserve this month announced that Virginia Port Authority Police Capt. Monty Willaford has been named as the Outstanding Junior Officer for 2007.

The annual award recognizes an individual for notable contributions to the Coast Guard, demonstrated leadership ability, exemplary performance of Coast Guard duties and significant civic accomplishments.

“I am not surprised by this at all; Capt. Willaford is one the hardest-working individuals I have ever known,” said Andrew Engemann, chief of the VPA Police Department. “We have an outstanding relationship with the USCG as a direct result of Capt. Willaford’s involvement in both domains. During his two years here Capt. Willaford has made dramatic improvements in our physical security. His attention to every detail in the regulations has resulted in the USCG finding that we are in full compliance during routine and unannounced inspections.”

Willaford has completed the Unified Command Course at Texas A&M University and is qualified to serve in any position in the National Incident Management System Incident Command Structure. He serves on the Hampton Roads Maritime Security Committee; is a volunteer firefighter; and is a sector captain of a Clean the Bay work crew -- his work has earned him the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

Moreover, Willaford is the shore-side security division chief at Port Security Unit 305 [Ft. Eustis], a position normally held by a more senior officer.

“His leadership of the security division was instrumental to his unit [PSU 305] achieving a score of 97.25 percent at its most recent tailored unit training activity final exercise,” said USCG Capt. D.J. McClellan, acting director of reserve and training.

The formal announcement of the award was made in Washington, D.C., in February at the annual Reserve Officer Association Conference.

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The Virginia Port Authority (VPA) is an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, reporting to the state Secretary of Transportation. The VPA owns and operates four general cargo facilities on behalf of the state: Norfolk International Terminals, Portsmouth Marine Terminal, Newport News Marine Terminal and the Virginia Inland Port in Warren County. The terminals are operated by Virginia International Terminals, Inc. (VIT) the non-stock, non-profit operating company. The VPA, through terminal earnings generated by VIT, is operationally self-sufficient. The VPA and correlating maritime industry is responsible for 343,000 jobs and $41 billion in total revenue.

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