Coast Guard Lt. Kelly Deutermann, 28, an MH-65C aircraft commander, has been selected as the recipient of the 2011 Capt. Dorothy Stratton Leadership Award.

Deutermann received the award at the 24th Annual Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium Tuesday in San Diego.

Established in 2001, the Capt. Dorothy Stratton Leadership Award is named in honor of the women who embraced the challenges presented by the admission of women into the Coast Guard. Stratton was the first director of the women’s reserve (SPARS) during World War II.

As the 11th recipient of the award, Deutermann has counseled numerous personnel through financial difficulty and personal hardship as a volunteer command financial specialist and Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA); dedicated numerous hours both on and off duty to mentoring junior Coast Guard members and children in the local community; and has voluntarily supported organizations including the South Florida Coast Guard Association, Women in Aviation, Kids in Distress of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Partnership in Education, and a local cycling and triathlon team.

As a unit health-promotion coordinator, she motivated fellow Coast Guard members with inspirational fitness contests, and personally mentored numerous members toward successful achievement of unit-specified fitness standards.

“Selection for this award is quite an honor, particularly after seeing the incredibly impressive group of people nominated,” said Deutermann. “I am truly humbled.”

Deutermann, a native of Healdsburg, Calif., is a 2004 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn

Photo: Rear Adm. Sandra Stosz,, Master Chief of the Coast Guard Michael Leavitt and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Nicole Shue pose with Lt. Kelly Deutermann, the recipient of the Capt. Dorothy Stratton Leadership Award