United States Coast Guard

Training Center Petaluma

Health Services Division
Ralph R. Nix Jr. Medical Clinic

599 Tomales Rd.

Petaluma, CA 94952-5000
Staff Symbol: Medical
Phone: (707) 765-7200
Fax: (707) 765-7521

12335
07 MAR 2014
Dear Hiring Official:
It is my privilege to give my highest recommendation to Evette J. Earl for the position of Child
Development Center (CDC) Director at USCG Training Center Petaluma. I have worked directly with
her for over three years in my duties as Senior Medical Officer at the Training Centers medical clinic
while she has ably and humbly performed as acting CDC Director. My direct observation of her
competence, care, and commitment to her clients (children and parents), staff, and chain of command
gives me complete confidence in her ability to function successfully as Director ongoing. The frank,
positive comments of my staff with children in attendance at the CDC reinforce my perceptions.
Evette has consistently made the time to coordinate and personally represent the CDC at over 10 Special
Needs Resource Team meetings with the regional Family Resource Specialist, myself and anxious parents
of children with often complex medical needs to determine appropriateness for enrollment. These
meetings have potential to be high stress and contentious, but have always been thoughtfully well
organized, with key issues and solutions identified in advance by which Evette soothed parents and
command concerns. Follow up inquiries with parent service members have been universally positive.
When cases of medical importance, either due to acute illness outbreaks or chronic medical conditions of
specific children, raised or had the potential to raise concern of other parents and staff, Evette has
researched and synthesized professional and medically accurate information sheets and parent letters to
inform and reassure stakeholders. She initiated annual health trainings for CDC staff including a special
session when a special needs child of potential infectious concern for female staff of childbearing age was
enrolled. Evette created a safe environment where CDC staff and myself were able to dialogue openly to
the full satisfaction of all concerned. The parent of that child has commented to me privately on how
warmly she and her child have been received.
One of the most difficult and challenging situations in child care is child abuse. Evette and her staff
identified a child with unusual injuries in a high risk family situation and immediately notified command.
Child Protective Services (CPS) investigated and elected to remove the child from the home for cause.
The CPS and command investigations identified various misconducts by the parent who was discharged
from service and shortly thereafter convicted of felonies. The child is safe custody of another family
member as a result of the conscientious and professional actions of Evette and her staff.
I reiterate my fullest confidence in Evette Earl as CDC Director. She has already demonstrated
exceptional performance in every dimension of the role and has my highest recommendation to be
formally promoted to the position full-time. I make myself freely available for any further inquiries.
Sincerely,

Inzune K. Hwang, MD, MPH

Senior Medical Officer/Senior Health Service Officer
Captain, U.S. Public Health Service
Inzune.K.Hwang@uscg.mil