Panayiota Bertzikis is a United States Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...

 veteran who founded the Military Rape Crisis Center, providing free counselling and advice to victims of sexual assault. This occurred after Bertzikis was herself sexually assaulted, resulting in her discharge from the Coast Guard. She was awarded the Unsung Heroines of Massachusetts award by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women in May 2010.

External links

• - Military Rape Crisis Center - Executive director - Panayiota Bertzikis.