The Law Enforcement Commendation Certificate and Medal were presented to Chief Inspector Guy Cottrell of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at the George Washington Chapter meeting of the Sons of the American Revolution on March 14.
The award was presented by chapter President Dwight E. Whitney, Ph.D., at the banquet luncheon meeting held at the Belle Haven Country Club. Paul Wagoner, vice chairman of the chapter’s awards committee assisted in the presentation.
Cottrell received the award in recognition of his service and accomplishments in the field of law enforcement. He was appointed the 38th Chief Postal Inspector of the U.S. Postal Service in July 2010 where he oversees all operations of the service, including the National Headquarters offices, 17 field divisions, two service centers, and the National Forensic Laboratory. Cottrell also serves as chief security officer for the Postal Service and as chairman of the Universal Postal Union’s Postal Security Group of the United Nations. Prior to his appointment, Cottrell served as deputy chief inspector at National Headquarters where he oversaw all national security programs for the Postal Service.
A native of West Virginia who grew up in New Orleans, Cottrell joined the Postal Service in 1987 when he became a letter carrier there. In 1991, he became postal inspector at the New Orleans Division where he investigated internal and external mail theft throughout Louisiana and southern Mississippi. Since that time, he has held a number of management positions in major metropolitan areas, including his appointment as Inspector in Charge of the Postal Inspection Service’s Washington field office during the Anthrax investigation.
With more than 275 members, the George Washington Chapter is the largest Chapter in the Virginia Society of the SAR. In 2015 the Virginia Society is celebrating its 125th Anniversary.