The Power of Performance
By Captain Jo-Ann F. Burdian
Sector Commander/Captain of the Port
USCG Sector Miami, Florida
On July 7, 1993 I stood on a hot parade ground and, with newly
cut hair, swore an oath to the Constitution. It was my first day
as a Cadet at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and, in fairness,
it was a day I spent seriously considering getting out of the Coast Guard.
The only boat I had ever been on was the Staten Island Ferry, and I was
not completely sure what the Coast Guard was, but I knew I wanted to
serve my Nation and I needed to find a college that offered me free tuition.
¡Punto Final!
Choosing to attend the Coast Guard Academy was the least-informed, best decision
of my life. I would never have imagined that, 28 years later, I’d be back in my south
Florida hometown in Command of one of the busiest units in the Coast Guard.
In the intervening years I have commanded a ship at sea, briefed the President
of the United States, interdicted illicit drugs, managed crises, and saved lives.
I currently oversee over 800 Active Duty, Reserve, and Civilian Coast Guard
personnel, plus over 1,000 Coast Guard Auxiliarist volunteers who all work
together to promote safety, security, resilience, and environmental stewardship in the
waters that surround south Florida. I love my job, the amazing leaders I have the
privilege to serve alongside, and the vibrant community we support.
Looking back at every assignment, I remember so many moments when I made
mistakes or felt intimidated or overwhelmed. One single decision guided me to
success through those tough moments – I decided to put my head down and do the
work. Sometimes the work involved taking a hard look at operations or processes;
sometimes the best work was a hard look at myself and taking action to be better
tomorrow. But it is doing the work – making a commitment to performing above the
standard set for me – that helped me mine success in the U.S. Coast Guard. If you choose to perform as an optimistic, productive, humble member of your
team, you will earn the right to help shape your future. After 11 years on Active Duty,
I could not align my personal and professional priorities and I decided to take
advantage of the Coast Guard’s Temporary Separation program and spend two years
as a stay-at-home mom. At the time, my husband and I were both balancing
military careers and our family had grown to include our three amazing sons. It soon
became clear that the best way to support our family was for me to accept some
professional risk by choosing to pause my Coast Guard career and prioritize my
family. When I returned to Active Duty, I knew it would take hard work to succeed,
but – I did the work. And, as a result, I’ve earned several promotions, selection for
a fully funded graduate, and my current command, which has been the greatest
privilege and honor of my military service.
I hope anyone reading esta punta final collects this single point for their
toolkit – every one of us has the power to succeed; that power rests in our
willingness to perform.
LS
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Captain Burdian with Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral Schultz,
and the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure/Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime
Transportation, Congressman Carbajal, along with Fireman Alain
Carvajal (middle). Biscayne Bay, Miami, FL. October 11, 2021.
Captain Jo-Ann Burdian assumed the duties as the Sector Commander for Miami in May 2019. Captain Burdian’s previous
unit is Sector Puget Sound in Seattle, WA where she was the Chief of Response since July 2017. In this capacity,
she was responsible for the oversight of eight Coast Guard cutters, five boat stations, and the execution of all Search and
Rescue, Law Enforcement, and Pollution Response activities in the 3,500 Square Nautical Mile Sector Puget Sound Area of
Responsibility, including the 125 nautical mile international maritime border with Canada.
52 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle V ol. 27, No. 6, 2021