Brooke Millard was the executive officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Tall Ship Eagle stationed along the East Coast in December 2018 and into January 2019 during the previous — and longest — federal government shutdown that stretched into 35 days and damaged morale among her crew of 50 enlisted “coasties” and officers who had to report to work without pay.

Millard, now a retired Coast Guard commander married to an active-duty Coast Guard commander, “saw a bunch of thriving, amazing people who still had to do their job,” she said. “But they were distracted” and spent time at work searching for restaurants and other places that would provide free food and other discounts for them and their families.

Some of her crew ended their shifts only to work side jobs at night driving for ride-sharing

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