New London — The U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol has selected Marine Science Technician First Class Steven Skeen as the unit's Enlisted Person of the Year for 2016.

Skeen distinguished himself as a leader during a taxing 2016 Ice Season and an extensive transfer season. During the longest ice season on record since 1900, he demonstrated a positive attitude while working long hours in the IIP Operations Center. He stood more than 70 days of duty as duty watch stander and duty watch officer. Skeen met all qualification requirements well ahead of schedule, which enhanced the watch rotation by 25 percent and boosted work-life balance at the unit.

Skeen served as acting ice information branch chief for five months during the ice season when the position was gapped due to an unexpected departure of the lieutenant assigned to this officer billet. Skeen expertly led the Information Branch, allowing the Ice Operations Branch Chief to focus on reconnaissance operations.

Skeen worked extensively as a leader at an international level to implement improvements to IIP's iceberg warning products.  He demonstrated extraordinary drive by collaborating with North American Ice Service (NAIS) partners to formulate guidelines for adding critical information on the most recent reconnaissance data to the iceberg chart.  This work standardized watchstander procedures both at IIP and at the Canadian Ice Service (CIS) in Ottawa, to accurately display this information in accordance with command expectations.  In addition, Skeen worked closely with the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) to gather data for an Estimated Iceberg Limit off the coast of Greenland, expanding the scope of the IIP product and enhancing maritime domain awareness and navigational safety in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Skeen is originally from Big Spring, Texas.