USCG Engineer of the Year

Lt. Matthew Fann, ’12, head of the facilities engineering department at Base Charleston, was recognized with the 2024 Coast Guard Engineer of the Year Award.

Fann earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from The Citadel, as well as master’s degrees in electrical engineering and project management from The Citadel Graduate College.

Fann identified a life-threatening shock hazard to all personnel in the servicing shore electrical infrastructure for the newly delivered National Security Cutter. He initiated a technical engineering decision to ensure the safety of the cutter’s crew and equipment by securing power to the cutter until a safe shore power configuration could be implemented.

Fann also identified additional electrical component issues on all shore electrical supply supporting the NSCs, as well as numerous systemic electrical issues regarding shore power configurations Coast Guard-wide to improve safety and electrical ground detection.

As the onsite base engineer, Fann oversees all facility maintenance, construction and improvement initiatives required to maintain 100 acres of property and 215,000 square feet of building space, representing the Coast Guard with key federal, state, local and military stakeholders, and leading Base Charleston’s 15-year capital infrastructure investment plan as the future homeport for 10 major cutters.

An awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 21 to recognize Fann’s accomplishments. Additionally, as the Coast Guard Engineer of the Year, he will be nominated for the National Society of Professional Engineers Federal Engineer of the Year Award.

Fann is helping to support current engineering students at The Citadel as the technical advisor for electrical engineering senior design students, utilizing his professional experience to guide students in building a model demonstrating potential hazards at the U.S. Coast Guard Base Charleston.