With the transfer of the United States Coast Guard from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Homeland Security through Section 74 of Executive Order 13286 issued on February 28, 2003, the need for a new Presidential Unit Citation reflecting the service’s provenance was necessary. That came on May 25, 2006, when President George W. Bush awarded the service its first Presidential Unit Citation as a part of DHS at a change of command ceremony held at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C.
Because it was the Coast Guard’s first Presidential Unit Citation under DHS, a new, Coast-Guard-specific ribbon was designed to honor the Guard’s meritorious achievement and stellar performance between August 29 and September 13, 2005 in preparing for and responding to the destruction unleashed by Hurricane Katrina. In addition to a new ribbon, a Hurricane Device was also designed for the express purpose of being worn with the ribbon.
Because the Coast Guard’s monumental response as an “all hands” effort, anyone who was a member of Team Coast Guard—whether Active Duty, Reserve, Auxiliary, or Civilian personnel— during that period is eligible to be awarded the ribbon and accompany device.