Biography
Mr. Spivak joined the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary after
spending seven years in the United States Power Squadrons (USPS).
A primary catalyst for his joining was the events of September
11th, and the actions of the Coast Guard, the Auxiliary and
that of the USPS.
As
a member of the USCG Auxiliary, Auxiliarist Spivak, is an Instructor,
the Flotilla, Division and the Assistant District Webmaster,
a Vessel Safety Examiner and a Marine Dealer Visitor, where
he has served as the Flotilla and Division Staff Officer for
the Visitor Program.
He is also finishing both the Boat Crew and the Air Observer/Air
Crew programs.
On a National level, he is a member of the National Press Corps
(a Branch Chief in the Public Affairs Department), as well as
a staff member of the National Training Center. In addition,
other duties include being a Staff member of the Web Support
Group, Office of the Chief Director of the Auxiliary, G-OCX,
United States Coast Guard.
In 2001, Auxiliarist Spivak placed second in the United States
Coast Guard JOC Alex Haley Award of Excellence in Journalism
contest, for his contributions to the Public Affairs of the
Coast Guard. In 2003, from Internet searches, Auxiliarist Spivak's
works have been used in over 120 media outlets in excess of
200 times. In addition, over 45,000 articles have been read
on the Coast Guard website,
in 2003 alone..
In other roles, he serves as the Division Chief, Communications
for the International Affairs Directorate, the Webmaster for
the Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. (CGAuxA, Inc.) and
a member of the staff of the Commander Coast Guard D7 Office
of the Director (CCGD7oax) and Commander Coast Guard D1 Office
of the Director, Southern Region (CCGD1oaxSR).
Mr. Spivak is the recipient of two (2) Auxiliary Commandant
Letter Of Commendation for exceptional meritoius service to
the Coast Guard, as well as a Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation
Award.
He is still a member of USPS (where he was the Chief Information
Officer) and is also a member of the Canadian Power and Sail
Squadrons. In addition, he is a consultant with, and the Chief
Information Officer for the United Safe Boating Institute and
as well as a member of the National Safe Boating Council. Other
recreational boating activities include assisting the Association
for Rescue at Sea, Inc. (AFRAS) redesign their web site, the
Foundation for Coast Guard History, Inc. (FCGH), redesign their
newsletter and provides technical assistance to a large number
of other Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary programs (both
officially and unofficially).
Other memberships include the Aircraft Owners & Pilots
Association, National Safe Boating Council, Inc., Boating Writers
International and the US Navy League.
When not volunteering on Recreational Boating issues, Mr. Spivak
is an Adjunct Professor at Lehman College, City University of
New York where he teaches accounting. He is also the Chief Financial
Officer of DNA Model Management, currently one of the top modeling
management agencies in New York City.
An accomplished freelance writer, Prof. Spivak has several
hundred published articles under his belt, as well as a contribution
in WritersNet Anthology, Volume II, an anthology of stories,
both fiction and non-fiction published by iUniverse in October
2002. He is currently a Contributing Editor to ServerPipeline.Com,
a CMP Media on-line e-zine.
Boating Writers International (BWI) has asked Prof. Spivak
to be one of the judges in their prestigious 2003 BWI Writing
Contest
The
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the civilian, uniformed
volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard, as
well as the lead volunteer force in the Department of Homeland
Security. Founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the US
Coast Guard Reserves and re-designated the Auxiliary in
1941. The 38,000 volunteer members (men and women) donate
thousands of hours in support of Coast Guard missions, such
as Search & Rescue, Public Education, Marine Environmental
Protection and Maritime Domain Awareness |