Aviation Week, the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries, recognized exceptional strategy, heroism and leadership at the 51st Annual Laureates Awards on March 4 in Washington, D.C. Hosted by Aviation Week, in conjunction with Platinum Partner Breitling and Emerald Partners Booz Allen Hamilton and Northrop Grumman, the Laureates Awards is the industry’s premier event, acknowledging the innovation, vision and exploration of current and future leaders in aviation, aerospace and defense, including U.S. Coast Guard Academy 1/C Joel Kurucar of Fayetteville, Ga.

Philippe Bonay, General Manager, Breitling USA, presented Breitling watches and Tomorrow’s Leader awards to Cadet Kurucar and three other armed services cadets: U. S. Naval Academy Midshipman 1/C John Hesling; U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet First Class Joseph Robinson; and U.S. Military Academy CDT Christopher Westrom.

Cadet Kurucar has received numerous honors at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, including the dean's list each semester, the Commandant of Cadet’s List each semester except his first, and the fall 2007-2008 Regimental Commander, where he commanded the Corps of Cadets, including roughly 1,000 cadets. Cadet Kurucar also participated in the Service Academy Exchange Program, which brought him to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for a semester. His future goals are attending basic flight training, becoming a Coast Guard officer, flying rotary-wing aircrafts, and pursuing further academic challenges in mathematics and operations research.

Kurucar was one of 220 U.S. Coast Guard Academy first class cadets to learn what unit they will be assigned to after graduation at billet night March 6. Kurucar, who will earn a commission as an ensign in the Coast Guard upon graduation, will report to Flight Training, in Pensacola Fla. for his first tour of duty.

“It’s really exciting to be offered this great opportunity,” said Kurucar. The assignment process started in February when cadets were given a list of available billets from which to choose. A number of factors are taken into account by the detailers at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C. during the assignment process. First and foremost are the needs of the service, a cadet’s major, gender constraints at a unit, a cadet’s overall military precedence average and finally what a cadet put on their dream sheet. This year the majority, 52 percent, of cadets will received a billet that was in their top three picks. Like every other year most of the graduating class will be headed to sea: 87 percent are assigned to afloat units, four percent will go to ashore units while nine percent will go straight to flight school.

Other Laureates Awards include The Breitling Award for Aviation Heroism, which will be presented to The British Royal Navy Sea King Helicopter Crew, for a life-saving, 11-hour cave rescue on July 3, 2007; and The Philip J. Klass Award for Lifetime Achievement, which will go to Mauricio Bothelho, Chairman, Embraer. Individual and team honorees who epitomize the values and visions of the global aerospace industry in the categories of Aeronautics/Propulsion, Business/General Aviation, Commercial Air Transport, IT/Electronics, Military, Operations, and Space, will also be announced at the black-tie awards ceremony, where they will receive accolades from industry pioneers and thought leaders from around the world.

“Aviation Week is honored to recognize these exceptional men and women, who have demonstrated their commitment to excellence as leaders, students and heroes,” said Tom Henricks, President, Aviation Week. “As we acknowledge their accomplishments, we are reminded of the great impact a single act or lifetime of bravery, integrity and service can have on our industry and community.”

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