Mr. Lyden has been involved in the USCG Auxiliary since 2000 and has been instrumental in the implementation of many groundbreaking community engagement programs for the USCG such as the Citizen's Action Network (CAN) and AWW (America's Waterway Watch). He is currently the administrator for the USCG AWW Facebook page. He has received numerous awards for his work with the USCG Auxiliary including The Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation.
- JOINED THE USCG AUXILIARY ON SEPTEMBER 07TH, 2000
- JOINED THE USCG GROUP SEATTLE “EYES ON THE SOUND” VOLUNTEER SHORELINE CITIZEN PROGRAM IN 2000
- RECEIVED THE USCG AUXILIARY CERTIFICATION OF APPRECIATION FOR HIS ROLE IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN 2003
- WAS PRESENTED THE AUXILIARY COMMANDANT LETTER OF COMMENDATION ON FEBRUARY 21, 2025 FOR HIS ROLE BETWEEN JANUARY 2003 TO JANUARY 2004, IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE “EYES ON THE SOUND” PROGRAM WHICH HAS PROVEN TO BE THE UNDERLYING BACKBONE OF THE “NORTHWEST WATCH” PROGRAM. ALSO THE LETTER OF COMMENDATION NOTED: WHEN THE EDITOR OF THE CG AUXILIARY PUBLICATION “BUOY 13” RESIGNED YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE WHO WAS WILLING TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY AND CHALLENGE OF PUBLISHING THIS VERY IMPORTANT PUBLICATION. WITH NO PREVIOUS PUBLISHING EXPERIENCE, YOU HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS AND SUCCESSFULLY PRODUCED AN EXCELLENT EDITION OF THE BUOY 13 FOR ALL OF THE MEMBERSHIP IN D-13 TO ENJOY. YOU HAVE HAD A DIRECT IMPACT ON INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND HAVE ENHANCED RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE CITIZENS LIVING IN THE THIRTEENTH COAST GUARD DISTRICT ARE SAFER AND SMARTER, BECAUSE OF YOU. FOR THE COMMANDANT, J.M GARRETT – REAR ADMIRAL, U.S. COAST GUARD, COMMANDER, THIRTEENTH COAST GUARD DISTRICT.
- 2005 – RECEIVED THE AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP SERVICE AWARD
- MAY 10, 2025 – RECEIVED THE SEATTLE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION MEDALION.
- JUNE 19, 2025 – WORKED WITH WASHINGTON STATE PUBLIC TELEVISION (TVW) AND CREATED A TV SEGMENT THAT WAS VIEWED BY OVER ONE MILLION IN WASHINGTON STATE – ROBERT LYDEN AND MIKE DICKOVER – THE USCG CITIZEN’S ACTION NETWORK – (TEN MINUTES) Citizens Action Network Faces & Places of WA: Citizens Action Network - Program where citizens act as the "eyes & ears" to the U.S. Coast Guard.
- 2006 – RECEIVED THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY SUSTAINED SERVICE AWARD FOR SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF DUTY – TOTAL HOURS: 750
- APPOINTED PA HISTORIAN FOR THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY D-13 AND SERVED IN THIS ROLE FROM 2007 – 2012.
- WAS AWARDED THE AUXILIARY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL ON APRIL 12TH, 2007: MR LYDEN IS SITED FOR SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF DUTY WHILE SERVING WITH FLOTILLA 38 FROM MAY 2006 TO MARCH 2007. EXHIBITING EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION AND TECHNICAL ABILITY. MR. LYDEN HAS DEVOTED MORE THAM 400 HOURS OF PERSONAL TIME TO FURTHER THE INFLUENCE AND RECOGNITION OF THE AWARD-WINNING CITIZEN’S ACTION NETWORK (CAN) PROGRAM. AWARDED BY R.R. HOUCK, REAR ADMIRAL, USCG, THIRTEENTH DISTRICT COMMANDER.
- MAY 7, 2025 - RECEIVED THE SEATTLE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION MEDALION.
- NOVEMBER 12, 2025 – RECEIVED THE COAST GUARD MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION FOR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE U.S. COAST GUARD CITIZEN’S ACTION NETWORK NORTHERN AUXILIARY TEAM. FOR THE COMMANDANT, J.P. CURRIER, REAR ADMIRAL, U.S. COAST GUARD, COMMANDER, THIRTEENTH COAST GUARD DISTRICT.
- SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2010 RECEIVED THE USCG AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP SERVICE AWARD FOR TEN YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY.
- 2007 – 2012: TO ASSIST IN THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE USCG “CITIZEN’S ACTION NETWORK, PROGRAM FELLOW AUXILIARIST, MIKE DICKOVER, D-13 DSO, MR. LYDEN, D-13 DSO, CREATED A WEBSITE THAT IS A STOREHOUSE OF INFORMATION ON THE ‘CITIZEN’S ACTION NETWORK” AND THE AMERICA’S WATERWAY WATCH PROGRAM. CREATED IN 2007 AND THROUGH 2012 THIS WEBSITE HAS RECEIVED 330,539 REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION AND 45.177 GB OF DATA HAS BEEN DOWNLOADED AND TRANSFERRED. THE WEBSITE PACNWEST.ORG HTTP://WWW.PACNWEST.ORG HAS BEEN VISITED BY (112) COUNTRIES.
- 2010 – 2012 - MR. LYDEN HAS WORKED AS A CO-ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE USCG ON THEIR NATIONAL AMERICA’S WATERWAY WATCH (AWW2.0) FACEBOOK SITE. (MR. LYDEN WORKS WITH MR. RYAN OWENS, CHIEF, INDUSTRY OUTREACH BRANCH, DOMESTIC PORTS DIVISION (CG-5441) U.S. COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS.
- 2007 - RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IN A PAPER BY USCG COMMANDER MICHAEL BILLEAUDEAUX - LEVERAGING CITIZENS AND CULTIVATING VIGILANCE FOR FORCE MULTIPLICATION IN THEMARITIME DOMAIN – BY MICHAEL ANDRE’ BILLEAUDEAUX SEPTEMBER 2007 “Bob Lyden, you have spent upwards of eight years working in the field, spending thousands of hours making CAN happen. To you I owe the most and I hope you realize how valuable you have been to me, the Coast Guard and the nation.”
- 2011 - RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT – FROM JAY GRAHAM KING IN HIS PAPER – “MOVING CAN INLAND FOR DAMS” “Citizen’s Action Network: A Best Practice Citizen Watch Organization and a Benchmark for Inland Critical Infrastructure Protection” Acknowledgement Robert J. Lyden, DSO, USCG Auxiliary, directed the author to essential reference material and generously shared his experienced perspective.
- Represented the USCG D-13’ “Citizen’s Action Network” program at four (4) USCG Innovation Expositions.
- Represented the USCG D-13’s “Citizen’s Action Network” program at a National Marine Patrol Officer Conference.
- Represented the USCG D-13’s “Citizen’s Action Network” program at a Homeland Security Conference.
- MR. LYDEN IS THE CONTRACTS AND RISK MANAGER FOR MACDONALD-MILLER FACILITY SOLUTIONS, INC – A LEADING CONTRACTOR IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
