The Long Blue Line (Winter 2024)

CELEBRATING 

50 YEARS OF 

RECRUIT 

COMPANY 

SIERRA 89 

WINTER 2024 

COAST GUARD ATON STORY: 

AN UNEXPECTED 

TOUR OF DUTY 

Q&A WITH THE: 

MCPOCG & 

MCPOCG-R


Editor In Chief: Patti Fazio 

Managing Editor: Scott McGuire 

Art Director/Graphic Designer: 

Scott McGuire 

CG Retiree Services Program 

Manager: Bob Hinds, USCG CWO4 

(Ret.), H onorary CG MCPO 

Staff Writers: MCPO Jeff 

Creighton, USCG (Ret.) 

Contributing Writers: Renee 

Coleman, National Coast Guard 

Museum Director of Public Affairs 

Editorial Support: Catherine Janney 

Chief of the Mess: MCPOCG Vincent 

W. Patton, Ed.D., USCG (Ret.) 

PUBLISHER: 

The Long Blue Line is published 

quarterly by the National Coast 

Guard Museum Association, 

78 Howard Street, Suite A, New 

London, CT 06320 

ADVERTISING: 

Pentagon Publishing, Inc. 

2342 Oak Rd. 

Snellville, GA 30078 

Contact Jenny White, 

jenny@pentagon-usa.us 

PAST ISSUES: 

Current and past issues of The Long 

Blue Line (formerly The Retiree 

Newsletter) are accessible at: www. 

longblueline.org 

Current Coast Guard News is 

accessible at www.news.uscg.mil 

You may sign up for CG news 

updates at https://public. 

govdelivery.com/accounts/ 

USDHSCG/subscriber/ 

new?category_id=USDHSCG_ 

C18ou 

ON THE COVER: 

A collection of images from the 

Coast Guard's 1974 all-female 

enlisted recruit company, Sierra 89. 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 

4 

6 

8 

10 

16 

18 

22 

24 

30 

36 

42 

50 

52 

56 

60 

68 

80 

88 

92 

94 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS: 

A Place to Call Home 

National Retiree Council Co-Chairs 

Message from the Director 

Reunions, Notices & Items of Interest 

Saving Lives With the Life-car: National Coast Guard 

Museum's Gabe Christy expounds on his favorite artifact in the 

Heritage Asset Collection 

An Unexpeceted Tour of Duty 

Through the Lens of a Curator: the Fresnel Lens 

A Unique Career: Q&A with retired Lieutenant Commander 

Kermit Johnson 

COVER STORY | Recruit Company Sierra 89: the 

springboard to 50 years of women's service in the regular Coast Guard 

Q&A With the MCPOCG and MCPOCG-R 

Portraits of Service: Meaningful stories from shipmates 

From USCG Auxiliarist to the U.S. Coast 

Guard Reserve 

9 Central Boat School: Partnering with our Canadian 

counterparts 

Attention On Deck: CG retirees play critical role in tackling 

enlistment shortages 

SMTC Celebrates Two Decades of Service 

Retirement Notices 

TAPS Notices 

Chaplain's Corner 

PPC-RAS 

Other Important Retiree Resources 

Find all of this content at longblueline.org 

• CHANGES TO RETIREE & ANNUITANT MAILING/EMAIL ADDRESSES: The CG Retiree Services Program 

Manager, Mr. Robert Hinds, does NOT have the capability to change mailing/e-mail addresses in Direct Access 

(DA). Retirees & Annuitants may change their mailing/e-mail addresses by accessing their DA Self-Service account at 

www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/gp/ or by contacting CG PPC at 866-772-8724, e-mail: ppc-dg-customercare@uscg.mil 

• USCG/PHS/NOAA INPUT FOR LONG BLUE LINE: Submit input to Robert Hinds, Robert.C.Hinds@uscg.mil. 

Deadline for input for The Long Blue Line, Spring 2024, is 23 FEBRUARY 2024. 

Neither the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) nor the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) endorse the National Coast 

Guard Museum Association, or any other non-federal entity. Further, neither DHS nor the USCG endorse or support the 

products or services advertised in this newsletter, the organizations advertising in this newsletter, or the statements of 

any non- U.S. Coast Guard contributors for this newsletter. 

2 WINTER 2024 

THE LONG BLUE LINE

THE LONG BLUE LINE WINTER 2024 

3

A PLACE 

TO CALL HOME 

As we turn the page to a new calendar year, we continue to march closer to the opening of the National 

Coast Guard Museum. At a time of resolutions and reflections, the New Year has given me cause to reflect 

on my hopes for this new National treasure. Museums hold a special place in society. They honor the past 

and provide insights into humankind. They educate and they inspire. Museums bring communities together; 

they celebrate our best accomplishments and provide valuable lessons from past events and tragedies. 

With an anticipated opening in 2026, the National Coast Guard Museum aspires to hold its place among 

the best museums in the Nation. And yet, we strive to be more than a museum. For our museum, it is my 

hope to serve as the heart and soul of the U.S. Coast Guard Service, becoming a home of the entire 

Coast Guard community. We will not only educate visitors about the impact and history of the U.S. Coast 

Guard, but we will shine a light on the pride that is the underpinning of our Service, supporting workforce 

retention and recruitment. 

Our Coast Guard community is bound by a duty to serve. We are a diverse family with unique 

experiences and a shared collective history that spans more than 233 years. And now, 

with the National Coast Guard Museum, we will have a place to call home. Our 

museum will be the place to honor those who have served, share stories that 

unite us, and welcome home our enlisted and officers, active duty and reserve, 

retirees and veterans, auxiliarists and civilians. 

And just as we will serve the entire Coast Guard community, we will provide 

access to all. From a stunning brick and mortar building on the historic 

waterfront of New London to traveling exhibits and virtual programming, 

we will bring the museum to you. 

Semper Paratus! 

Vince Patton, MCPOCG, USCG (Ret.) 

Chief of the Mess 

National Coast Guard Museum 


THE LONG BLUE LINE


5

NATIONAL RETIREE 

COUNCIL CO-CHAIRS 

RADM MERRIE AUSTIN: The winter solstice is 

behind us—always a favorite time of year for my dad 

because he knew that the days would be growing 

longer. I hope everyone had a nice holiday season. 

I know many of you still have concerns, and frankly 

anger, in response to the results of the Operation 

Fouled Anchor investigation and the mishandling 

of sexual assault allegations at the Coast Guard 

Academy over two decades. As mentioned in the 

last Long Blue Line, the Commandant established 

the 90-day Accountability and Transparency Review 

(ATR) in July 2023, “directing a review of current law, 

policy, processes, practices, resources, and Service 

culture relevant to eradicating sexual assault and 

harassment in our ranks.” The goal of the ATR was to 

“respond to the Commandant’s challenge question: 

How can the Coast Guard drive meaningful change 

to our culture, consistent with our Core Values, and 

create an environment where every member feels 

safe and valued?” You should have received an email 

from the Commandant (sent to all retirees with email 

addresses on record in Direct Access) in December 

that provided links to the results of the ATR. For 

your reference, the link to the report, which includes 

33 action items, can also be found here: https:// 

media.defense.gov/2023/Nov/30/2003349064/- 

1/-1/0/CCG'S%20DIRECTED%20ACTIONS%20 

-%20ACCOUNTABILITY%20AND%20 

TRANSPARENCY%20W%20ENCL.508- 

COMPLIANT.PDF. Thank you to everyone who 

shared their stories, participated in listening sessions, 

or provided written information to the ATR Team. 

Shifting gears: the Coast Guard is hiring! Retirees 

have always provided critical support to CG recruiting 

with unique access and a persistent presence in 

communities around the globe. Today the Coast 

Guard is facing our largest workforce shortage in the 

Coast Guard’s 233-year history, and it is significantly 

impacting our daily operations. Now more than 

ever, the Coast Guard needs the support of retirees 

to maximize our recruiting efforts. The two most 

impactful things retirees can do is: 

1. Raise awareness of the Coast Guard and its 

missions within your community, especially with 

key influencers. 

2. Scout out talented potential applicants and refer 

them to the nearest recruiter. 

Thank you in advance for your support. If you have 

questions, please connect with your Regional Retiree 

Council, or reach out to the CG Recruiting Incident 

Management Team (IMT) at COMDT-Recruiting- 

IMT@uscg.mil. In the coming months, more 

resources, to include talking points you can use 

and up-to-date eligibility information, will be provided 

to help with our recruiting efforts. In the meantime, 

please check out the new www.goCoastGuard.com 

website, which provides a better user experience 

and a wealth of information. 

I wish you and your families a Happy and Healthy 

2024! 

Thoughts on retirement: 

"The two most 

important days in your 

life are the day you are 

born and the day you 

find out why." 

—Anonymous 

MCPO Lloyd Pierce, USCG (Ret.): cgsilverancientmariner11@outlook.com 

RADM Merrie Austin, USCG (Ret.): maustincgnrc@gmail.com 


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MCPO LLOYD PIERCE: Time for the winter version 

of “as the anemometer spins”—at least for us in the 

northern hemisphere. In El Nino years, we in Florida, 

expect wetter, colder winters. I’m breaking out my 

thermals and rain gear and whining regularly on 

my social media feeds about how cold it is. I’ll take 

the flak from people in Siberia and Michigan. They 

made their choices as I did—and I chose warm and 

sunny—so this wet and cold isn’t working for me. 

Hoping whatever climate zone you’re in is delivering 

the expected seasonal environment and that 

everyone is warm, dry, and comfortable. 

Speaking of social media and things online, I recently 

read an article in one of our service organization 

magazines that explored the question, “If you’re not 

online do you even exist?” Funny … maybe—but 

for some of us a bit uncomfortable. Increasingly, 

organizations are turning to automated, online 

systems for routine services and requests. It’s 

common today to just tell people to go online and find 

things. Many organizations have difficulty locating 

and serving us if we have not established an online 

presence. Getting help from a real person is often 

cumbersome and frustrating, if not impossible. To 

get proper service and help, we need to establish 

our “presence” with these organizations, or we don’t 

exist. 

Although it’s frustrating not being able to reach 

someone and get help, I’ve found that doing things 

online myself can be more convenient and accurate. 

Once you have an account and log-in, you can often 

take care of routine business without assistance. 

No hold or wait times, no call-back or phone tag, 

less data errors, and generally instant updates and 

changes. Usually, even if I can get someone to 

answer the phone, they are in a call center nowhere 

nearby and can’t relate to my problem. I do as much 

of my medical and financial dealings as possible 

online. I find myself routinely checking for an online 

option with any business dealing. If I have 

a question, there’s usually a chat feature 

to engage with a person for help. I work 

shift work which often means I can’t do 

business during normal business hours. It’s 

convenient and easier to do something online rather 

than trying to squeeze it in during work time. 

Fortunately, our Coast Guard offers online options 

for routine retiree issues. It’s not unique to us, as the 

other services: DoD, the VA, and DFAS also have 

become more self-service oriented. As you read 

this, we’ll be in the middle of tax season, and all will 

be needing 1099s and some other paperwork. Quite 

possibly, we’ll need to make changes. Hopefully, 

you’ve been in Direct Access and made sure your 

address is up to date and correct and added an 

email to your profile. Email is the quickest way for 

PPC to reach us. If you don’t have an online presence 

with PPC, do you exist? Sure! But it makes it a lot 

easier to find you if they have a current address and 

the correct contact information. It’s often a lot quicker 

and more convenient to do something yourself— 

through Direct Access if you can. 

While on the topic of online things, it’s necessary 

to mention that everything medical is now digitized 

and online. The VA requires electronic (digital) health 

records. If you haven’t turned in your health record 

to be digitized, please find the instructions on doing 

so in this issue of Long Blue Line. The VA no longer 

accepts paper records, and the Coast Guard will 

digitize your record (or has already) so that your 

claims can be processed. If you don’t have an online 

presence with the VA, do you exist? Not touching 

that … 


7

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR 

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION 

A MESSAGE FROM 

THE DIRECTOR 

As we welcome in the New Year, for the first issue of The Long Blue Line, I’d like to share 

an article published by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), December 29, 

2021: “Scrap the Resolutions and Set New Year’s Intentions Instead. Amid COVID-19 and turbulent 

times, it’s time for a revolution in resolutions.” https://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/ 

info-2020/new-years-intentions.html 

“An intention is something you want to manifest in your life or some guiding principle that you 

want to live by,” says Diana Raab, a psychologist and author. While resolutions are hard and 

fast goals that are either achieved or broken, intentions are broader ideas. Raab describes 

them “as the beginning of a dream or desire for something that you want for yourself.” 

As Coast Guard Active-Duty and Reserve members, you served with intention, guided by principles 

of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty throughout your career. I suspect intention and guiding 

principles remain an important part of your life—as they do for your Service and in my commitment 

to strengthening CG retiree services and the mutually beneficial relationship between the CG and 

retiree community. 

Speaking of New Year’s intentions, facing acute workforce shortages, our Coast Guard intends to 

achieve its RECRUITING GOALS and remain MISSION READY. The CG National Retiree Council 

(CGNRC) has made support for recruiting a top priority, and our +65K CG retirees are asked to 

remain vigilant in these efforts—wearing clothing/hats with CG emblems, displaying USCG flags, 

sharing your CG story with young people, etc. See Hiring Incentives | United States Coast 

Guard (gocoastguard.com) and expect to hear more on this topic. 

Finally, I want to thank RADM Meredith Austin USCG (Ret.), and MCPO Lloyd Pierce, USCG (Ret.), 

CGNRC Co-Chairs, the Council, and our Regional Retiree Councils for their continued leadership 

and volunteer service to the CG and retiree community. My staff and I were privileged to join the 

CGNRC Co-Chairs for their meeting with the Commandant, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast 

Guard Reserve, and Deputy Commandant for Mission Support-Deputy for Personnel Readiness 

in December 2023, and I look forward to supporting the Council’s annual priorities, which are 

accessible at: www.dcms.uscg.mil/retiree 

Best Wishes for a SAFE and HAPPY New Year. 

Yours in Service, 

RADM Joe Raymond 

Assistant Commandant for Military Personnel (CG-1M) 


THE LONG BLUE LINE


9

REUNIONS, NOTICES & 

ITEMS OF INTEREST 

USCGC WOODRUSH GROUP 

DULUTH REUNION 

LOCATION: Duluth, Minnesota 

DATE: September 13–15, 2024 

Pease contact OS1 Michael F. Zronek, USCG (Ret), 

at mzronek@aol.com for further information. 

USCGC WESTWIND (WGB 281) 

REUNION 

LOCATION: Maritime Conference Center, Linthicum 

Heights, Maryland 

DATE: September 20–22, 2024, Group Dinner on 

the 21st 

Room Rates: $169 for single, 1 queen bed, $199 

double, 2 queen beds. Each room receives a 

complimentary breakfast and dinner. 

Reservation: 1-866-900-3517 refer to code: 5925 

ALL Icebreaker Sailors Welcome! 

Further Information: Frank Roberts (910) 279-0823, 

froberts58@gmail.com 

STATE OF TENNESSEE COAST GUARD 

COMMENDATION MEDAL LICENSE PLATE 

BMC Robert Cox, USCG (Ret.) 

rwcox1022@aol.com 

This became a mission for me when I began noticing that cars were displaying plates with all the armed 

services commendations except for the Coast Guard, so I contacted my state representative and made 

a request. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55, Chapter 4, Part 2, was amended adding a new section: 

55-4-281. Coast Guard Medal or the Coast Guard Commendation Medal. Details at: SA0214.pdf (tn.gov) 

• Check with your local County clerk’s office to see if they have them available. 

• Bring your DD214, a picture I. D. and proof of residence with you. This is all that should be required 

to get this permanent plate. 

If your state does not have such a plate available, you may want to contact your local state representative 

and request that they present a bill to the State Assembly to create one. 


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GLACIER REUNION 

SAVE THE DATE 

LOCATION: Mystic, Connecticut 

DATE: SEPT 20–22, 2024 

Greetings all Navy and Coast Guard men and women, grey, white, and red hull sailors and aviators. Mark 

your calendars to join us for the USS/USCGC Glacier Reunion September 20–22, 2024 in Mystic, CT. 

All grey, white, and red hull icebreaker sailors are welcome to join the fun and have a great time reminiscing 

and getting to know shipmates from all icebreaker Deep Freezes (South) and Artic West/East summer/ 

winter (North) trips. 

Contact: SHARON INGRAM shingram1@live.com 

2023 GLACIER REUNION COMMITTEE: 

Chair - Bill Davis billdavis2619@gmail.com 

VChair - Fred Nichols fredcnichols@gmail.com 

Treasurer - Tom Berstene tberstene@outlook.com 

Sharon Ingram shingram1@live.com 

Dale Thompson dale.thompson5@icloud.com 

Bert Dejong dejongpago@hotmail.com 

Fred Santesteban fcsant@outlook.com 

Bill Sheretz sheretz@waypt.com 

Bill Kelsey wkelsey@twc.com 

Tell three shipmates who you know about the reunion, and have those shipmates spread the word. We 

are hoping to get many icebreaker shipmates in attendance. 


11

REUNIONS, NOTICES & 

ITEMS OF INTEREST 

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST GUARD RETIREE 

COUNCIL 30TH ALL SERVICES RETIREE SEMINAR 

LOCATION: Gresham Conference Center, Coast 

Guard Island, Alameda, California 

DATE: April 27, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

The Northern California Coast Guard Retiree Council 

announces the 30th All Services Retiree Seminar to 

be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. 

to 12:00 p.m., in the Gresham Conference Center, 

Coast Guard Island, Alameda, CA. Speakers and 

information tables will provide the latest information 

on TRICARE, current legislation, legal assistance, 

scams, fraud, Space-A travel, and more. Additional 

information is available at: NCCGRC.org or contact: 

David.D.Swanson@Outlook.com or by phone at 

510-390-6312. 

I THINK MY TEACHER MAY BE 

A DIMETRODON 

By Marv Pontiff, CAPT, USCG (Ret.) 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1185724165/i-thinkmy-teacher-may-be-a-dimetrodon 

USCG CPOA/CGEA 

CONVENTION 

LOCATION: Seattle to Alaska 

DATE: August 23–30 

Enlisted Association Convention will be held underway! 

Seattle to Alaska - August 23–30 

As we continue to seek innovative ideas for our convention location, 

this one should be epic! Engage early as cabins book up fast. 

Learn more at: www.uscgcpoa.org/membership/convention/ 

® 


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USCGC STORIS U.S. COAST GUARD 

VETERAN AND FAMILY REUNION 

LOCATION: Inn on Lake Superior and Conference Center, Duluth, Minnesota 

DATE: June 2–4, 2024 

As a general overview, the event will be headquartered at the Inn on Lake Superior and Conference Center in 

Duluth's historic Canal Park, right on Lake Superior. 

• Registration fees for the event are $125 p/p for adults, $60 p/p for children. This includes food for the Sunday 

night "Icebreaker" Meet and Greet and the Tuesday night banquet. Cash bars will be available. 

• General room rates are $159-176 per night, plus local tax and charges. 

• We plan a two-hour narrated brunch cruise on the MV VISTA STAR for the morning of June 3. Our journey 

will take us to see the sights around Duluth/Superior Harbor and Lake Superior. 

• Costs for the cruise are $70 p/p for adults, $40 p/p for children, including hot breakfast and coffee. 

• Several other activities are planned, including visits to the retired USCGC Sundew (WLB-404) and other 

attractions in Duluth, Superior (WI) and the Minnesota North Shore. We also hope to visit STA Duluth and 

CGC SPAR, if their schedules permit. 

• We plan on having the Foundation for Coast Guard History in attendance to conduct oral history interviews 

with reunion attendees. 

Most important are the opportunities to have social interactions with shipmates, renew old friendships and make 

new acquaintances. Our meeting space will give us the opportunity to share sea stories, view films, slides and 

photos, and celebrate the history of Storis and the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Principal contact: Jon A. Ottman, Clay Township, MI. For additional details and to get the registration packet, 

contact Jon through the reunion email address at: w38reunion@gmail.com 


13

YOU DOWN 

WITH OPC 

United States Coast Guard Commandant Admiral 

Linda L. Fagan, Master Chief Petty Officer Heath B. 

Jones, Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson, commander, 

Coast Guard Pacific Area, and retired USCG Captain 

Beverly Kelley stand with crewmembers of the Coast 

Guard Cutter Argus during its christening ceremony 

in Panama City, Florida, in October 2023. The Argus 

is the first ship of the Heritage class of Medium 

Endurance Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC). 

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles. 


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15

SAVING LIVES 

WITH THE 

LIFE-CAR 

Saving lives in the Coast Guard dates back to the 

founding of our Service. When the seas were too 

rough for human or boat rescue, the life-car was 

sent from shore to sea via a rope line to rescue 

shipwrecked sailors. A great example of American 

ingenuity patented in 1845 by Joseph Francis, 

the life-car is a modestly sized lozenge-shaped 

watercraft structure made of galvanized iron. It is 

also the favorite artifact of Gabe Christy, curator 

for the National Coast Guard Museum. 

“This is, by far, my favorite artifact in the Heritage 

Asset Collection because it is an example of early 

innovation in lifesaving,” Christy said. “The lifecar 

was one of the first steps in a fairly big shift 

in creating equipment for saving human life and 

taking into account the safety of the rescuers.” 

Christy explains that the line for the life-car was 

launched via mortar, rocket, or Lyle gun from 

shore to the stranded vessel, and the life-car could 

be pulled in either direction—first to the survivors 

then in the opposite direction back to shore. The 

shore-to-sea rescue evolution continued until 

all survivors were brought to land. The metal 

structure, although difficult to handle in stormy 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

conditions, made it durable and allowed for two 

to four people to be hauled ashore at a time. Tiny 

holes in the surface prevented the passengers 

from suffocating during the rescue. 

Photo courtesy of Gabe Christy. 

The first deployment of a life-car was on New 

Year’s Day in 1850 during the historic Ayrshire 

rescue. Ayrshire was a three-masted rudderless 

ship that ran aground off Squan Beach. The multiday 

rescue effort resulted in 201 passengers and 

crew with only one death of a sailor who attempted 

to jump to safety. 

Gabe Chisty, who manages the interpretation of 

museum exhibits and programming, is intimately 

familiar with the hundreds of artifacts that will 

eventually be displayed in the National Coast Guard 

Museum. He explains that the life-car in the Coast 

Guard Heritage Asset Collection dates to the 1860s 

and measures 46.75 inches tall, 11 feet long, and 

47 inches wide. It will be installed on Deck 2 in the 

Lifesavers Around the Globe Wing of the National 

Coast Guard Museum, anticipated to open in 2026. 


17

By: Renee Coleman, National Coast Guard Museum 

UNEXPECTED 

TOUR OF 

DUTY 

Troy Szatkowski, a retired Coast Guard chief, 

never, in his wildest dreams as an electrician’s mate (EM), thought his Coast 

Guard career would include lighthouses. He initially entered the Coast 

Guard with the goal of being a boatswain’s mate (BM), with the intention of 

a four-year enlistment. Then, as so often happens, Szatkowski embarked on 

an unexpected career path. 

“I was working my way through BM 

sign offs and realized I was more of an 

engine-minded person,” he said. “I started 

hanging out in the electrical department, 

and that’s when things changed. I thought 

about striking EM, but I was encouraged 

to go to EM A-school.” 

Ten years later in 2001, approximately 

half-way through his Coast Guard career, 

Szatkowski received orders to Aids to 

Navigation Team (ANT) Portland, Maine. 

This was his first ANT, although he was 

stationed on two buoy tenders prior. 

“I was familiar with the ATON field,” he 

said. “I had an idea what I was in for, but 

I didn’t anticipate how many lighthouses 

would fall under my responsibility.” From 

2001-2004 Szatkowski had primary 

responsibility for 23 lighthouses along 

with three sets of range lights, all requiring 

quarterly upkeep and maintenance. 

Asked to recall the lighthouse names, 

Szatkowski can do so with ease: Isle 

Of Shoal Light, Whaleback Light, 

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Goat 

Island Lighthouse, Nubble Lighthouse, 

Boone Island Lighthouse, Wood Island 

Lighthouse, Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse, 

Portland Head Light, Ram Island Ledge 

Light, Spring Point Lighthouse, Bug Light, 

Halfway Rock Island Lighthouse, Doubling 

Pt Lighthouse, Squirrel Pt Lighthouse, 

Pond Island Lighthouse, Seguin Island 

Lighthouse, Hendricks Head Lighthouse, 

Burnt Island Lighthouse, Cuckolds 


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Wood Island Lighthouse 

Hendricks Head Lighthouse 

Seguin Rail 

Isle of Shoals Lighthouse 

I had an idea what I was in 

for, but I didn’t anticipate 

how many lighthouses 

would fall under my 

responsibility. 

Lighthouse, Ram Island Light, 

Monhegan Lighthouse, and Pemaquid 

Pt Lighthouse. 

Added to that were three sets of 

range lights under his purview: the 

Portsmouth Range Lights located 

on Pierce Island in Portsmouth, 

New Hampshire; Kittery Range 

Lights located on Kittery Point, New 

Hampshire; and the Kennebec River 

Range Lights off the coast of Maine. 

“Range lights, back in the day, 

were crucial especially if the vessel 

is unfamiliar with the channel,” 

Szatkowski said. The lighthouses 

offer perspective to mariners as 


19

they navigate waterways, while range lights help 

ships stay in the center of a channel. Along the 

Northern Atlantic coast, with unforgiving winters, 

maintenance was critical to ensure proper marine 

safety. Szatkowski often visited multiple onshore 

lighthouses per day, but he could only manage one 

offshore lighthouse per day, commonly transited on 

Coast Guard small boat. 

At every stop, Szatkowski and his crew inspected 

the lights, load tested batteries, and tested the fog 

horns where applicable. Each inspection concluded 

by wiping the lamps with alcohol pads to remove 

fingerprints. Fingerprints leave behind oil, dirt, and 

other residue that could hinder the effectiveness of 

the lamp. 

During the icy cold months of January, February, and 

March, Air Station Cape Cod provided additional 

support. There were several instances where 

Szatkowski was lowered from a helicopter to a 

lighthouse to conduct maintenance operations. 

“Whenever we went out, we brought provisions— 

MREs, blankets,” he said. “The weather could 

change on a dime; the helicopter could have been 

diverted. You just never knew what the turn of events 

could be, so it was always better to be prepared.” 

Of the lighthouses he serviced, Szatkowski has a 

hard time picking his favorite, but there are some 

standouts. The Seguin Island Lighthouse had the 

largest Fresnel lens he’s ever worked with. It was a 

first order Fresnel lens. Additionally, Sequin offered 

a distinct ambiance. 

“I had some goosebumps at Seguin,” he said. “It had 

a trolley to pull up supplies. On one visit, the trolley 

got loose on its own. It was a calm fall day. Nobody 

else was out there. That lighthouse had a spooky 

factor to it.” 

The Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse offered views 

so incredible that Szatkowski would sit atop 

the lighthouse and enjoy his lunch in the allencompassing 

natural beauty. Yet it was the 

Ram Island Ledge Light that tested Szatkowski’s 

wherewithal. 

“It was very challenging to pull up our gear,” he said. 

“It was very tall. It was easily a 25 to 30-foot climb up 

to the light.” 

On occasion, Szatkowski encountered wildlife 

inhabitants that were less than thrilled by his 

presence. Sea lions would often lay claim to 

the lighthouse grounds. Adult sea lions can be 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

aggressive, and the aggression increased if they 

had cubs, Szatkowski explained. He also had 

countless run-ins with seagulls who were always up 

to do battle. 

Reflecting on his tour of duty, it is clear Szatkowski 

cherished the unique peace and tranquility offered 

by all these lighthouse grounds. 

“In the four years I was assigned to ANT Portland, it 

never got old,” he said. “I had a lot of responsibility 

and was on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 

but it was a really good experience. I met a lot of 

good people and have incredible memories from 

that point of my career.” 

When PCS loomed, Szatkowski considered asking 

for an extension, but the Coast Guard needed 

him elsewhere. After 24 years in the Coast Guard 

Szatkowski retired, noting that the skills he learned 

as an EM have translated well into the civilian sector. 

Today, he’s the electrical engineering manager at 

Roswell Park Cancer Center. 

“I received a good grounding in the Coast Guard,” 

he said. “My ship and shore experience, combined, 

helped fine tune my skills in preparation for life 

outside the Coast Guard.” 

DECK O4 

Visitors will see lighthouses referenced on 

all decks, but the deep dive into this storied 

aid to navigation is focused on Deck 04 in 

the Champions of Commerce wing. In the 

lighthouse exhibit, we showcase everything 

from the equipment keepers used to keep 

the light lit all the way to a sixth order Fresnel 

lens. At the National Coast Guard Museum, 

lighthouse related artifacts span the entire 

history of the Service. The first light house in 

the country pre-dates the United States itself, 

and the Coast Guard, in one form or another, 

has been involved each step of the way. 


21

By: Renee Coleman, National Coast Guard Museum 

THE FRESNEL LENS 

As maritime commerce increased in the 19th century, so 

did the need for waterway safety. Ships navigating channels 

required improved visibility. The Argand lamp, an oil lamp 

put into use in 1784, had reached its shelf life by the early 

1800s, and improved technology was desperately needed. 

The Fresnel lens answered the call (pronounced fra-nell). 

Developed in 1822 by French physicist Ugustin Fresnel, the 

Fresnel lens proved to be a transformational evolution of the 

Argand lamp. 

“At that time, there were a lot of maritime wrecks and sinkings,” 

explains Coast Guard curator Arlyn Danielson. “The Fresnel 

lens utilized prisms and bullseye panels to refract light to the 

center of the lens, where it was concentrated into a powerful 

beam of light with a longer range that could then be seen by 

mariners farther out at sea.” 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

Fresnel lenses were manufactured in six varying sizes, 

referred to as orders. France was the first country to 

manufacture these lenses, and the United States adopted 

the technology in the early 20th century. Companies that 

produced the Fresnel lens included Henry-Lepaute, and 

Barbier, Benard & Turenne, of France, Chance Brothers & 

Co. of Birmingham, England, and the MacBeth-Evans Glass 

Company of Charleroi, Pennsylvania, the only American 

manufacturer. 

“These lenses were used for approximately 100 years. They 

exemplified a significant improvement in preventing maritime 

disasters and human loss,” Danielson adds. 

“These lenses have been romanticized and written about 

extensively,” Danielson said. “When they are lit up at night, 

they look like gems. Many of these lenses are still around 

today because they have become iconic parts of their 

communities.” 

Though new technology, such as GPS, replaced many 

active Fresnel lenses, its hallmark beauty is something that 

will last forever. 

There are currently more than 300 Fresnel lenses in the 

Coast Guard’s possession, including those in the Heritage 

Asset Collection and lenses still in use. 


23

QA Q 

&A& 

A 

&AUNIQUE 

USCG 

CAREER 

KERMIT JOHNSON, RETIRED LIEUTENANT COMMANDER, AWARDED 

CUTTERMAN, ANTARCTIC AND ARCTIC SERVICE MEDALS, GOOD 

CONDUCT MEDAL WITH BRONZE STAR AND VIETNAM-ERA MEDAL 

How did you first get involved in the Coast 

Q: Guard? 

When I was in high school, I did not want to 

A: follow my father’s steps and become a farmer. 

I always wanted to see what was on the other side of 

the mountain and beyond. And when I saw the ocean, 

I wanted to know what was on the other side. That was 

why I wanted to be a mariner, and why I ultimately 

joined the USCG. 

About a month before I graduated from high 

school, I was appointed as a cadet in the United 

States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). At the 

academy, I realized that even having graduated at 

almost the top of my class in high school, I was not 

prepared for some of the academics at the academy, 

so I dropped out. 

When I left the academy, I knew that I wanted to see 

the world. I first checked out the possibility of working 

in the merchant marine, either in the Great Lakes or 

internationally. That didn't pan out, so I considered 

the Navy and the Coast Guard. I enlisted in the Coast 

Guard in Dallas, Texas, on August 9, 1960. When I 

was sworn in, I met two Coast Guard officers. I asked 

them what it took to become an officer. I was told that 

I needed one year of college equivalency, and I had 

to be an E-6. From that conversation my focus was 

to find the fastest path to Officer Candidate School 

(OCS) to become a commissioned officer. 

You have had an unusual Coast Guard 

Q: career and one that highlights the many 

opportunities available. Can you walk us through 

your career progression? 

My USCG career is as follows: Boot camp in 

A: Alameda, California. On completion of boot 

camp there were no schools open, so I was stationed 

on the CG 95309 in Alameda. Within about two weeks, 

the boat was transferred to Crescent City in northern 

California. My duty stations were as follows (all times 

are approximate): 

• CG 95309 (later named the Cape Carter) one 

year at Crescent City, California: 1 year - SA 

• CG 95300 (later named the Cape Small) Hilo, 

Hawaii: 1 year - SN through ET3 

• Loran Station Hawaii, Upolu Point: 2 years - 

ET3 

• Base Boston: 2 months - ET3 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

Coast Guard photo of Kermit Johnson after 

being promoted to LT while at MSO Seattle 

(circa 1969 or 1970). 


25

Vessel christening ceremony 

in Kobe Japan (circa 1980). 

Johnson's children, Sonya 

and Randy are on the left. 

• Loran Station Nantucket Island, 

Massachusetts: 2 years - ET3 through ET1 

• Loran Station Hawaii, Upolu Point, Hawaii, 6 

months - ET1 

• OCS, Yorktown, VA 

• USCG Ice Breaker Staten Island, Seattle, WA: 

2 years - Assistant Engineer 

• Marine Safety Office Seattle: 2 years 

• USCG Cutter Wachusett, Seattle: 2 years - 

Engineering Officer 

• Marine Safety Office Baltimore: 4 years 

• Marine Safety Office Honolulu: 1.5 years 

• Resident Inspector, Kobe, Japan: 2.5 years 

• Marine Inspection Office as Executive Officer, 

Kobe, Japan: 1 year 

• Retired: March 1, 1981 

In addition to being stationed around the 

Q: world, tell us about your educational path 

within the Coast Guard. That too was a bit unusual. 

When I was advanced to E-6 on Nantucket, I 

A: received orders for transfer to District 14. I had 

to go to the district office in Boston for an overseas 

physical and other preparation for the transfer. While 

I was there, I inquired about OCS and was given the 

officer qualification test. I was surprised how easy the 

test was for me, and that I answered all the questions 

correctly. I was then given a qualification letter and 

other paperwork to be taken back to Nantucket to be 

signed by my CO and returned to the district office. 

That is how my path to OCS started. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

When I got out of boot camp, I had no other 

opportunity to attend any other school. So, the first 

school I attended in the Coast Guard was OCS. I 

did not attend any other school as I completed the 

necessary correspondence course and struck my 

rating as an ET. 

I believe that my time as a cadet in the USMMA was 

extremely helpful, as it provided me with a solid 

background for much of my time in the Coast Guard. 

When I was commissioned, I normally would have 

become a USCG deck officer. However, when I was 

in OCS, I learned marine inspectors were needed 

and that led me to consider becoming an engineering 

officer. During our OCS cruise aboard a large CG 

cutter, I found out that I actually preferred the work 

as an engineering officer. It was often very crowded 

on the bridge, and the people in the engineering 

office were able to focus on their job! I asked that I be 

reassigned to that position when I was commissioned. 

There are so many facets of serving in the 

Q: Coast Guard. Serving as an independent 

oversees inspector is perhaps less known to 

many. Please share with our readers about this 

incredible responsibility. 

When I was assigned to the Marine Inspection 

A: Office (MIO) in Seattle, I quickly became a 

“double ender,” as I was well qualified for deck and 

engine inspections. That background proved very 

beneficial during the times that I was assigned as an 

investigating officer in both Baltimore and Honolulu. 

My assignment as the resident inspector in Kobe, 

Japan, came about in an unusual way. I was the 

senior investigating officer in the MIO in Honolulu for 

about a year and a half when I learned that they were 

looking for someone for that assignment. Apparently, 

I had not been asked as I was rather new in the 

Honolulu office. I called the assignment officer in the 

USCG headquarters to express my interest in the 

assignment. I learned that my background was ideal, 

and I told him that my wife, Doris, is a third generation 

Japanese American and that both of us would be 

comfortable in Japan. Our conversation ended with 

a thank you for your interest. The next morning, I was 

really surprised when our office received a telex with 

my orders to Japan. I later learned that the assignment 

officer had called the District 14 chief of staff early in 

the morning to get his permission to cut the orders. 

As the resident inspector in Kobe, I was first responsible 

for inspecting the construction of the D-6 conversions 

of six container ships owned by SeaLand. It was 

"I BELIEVE THAT MY TIME AS 

A CADET IN THE USMMA WAS 

EXTREMELY HELPFUL, AS IT 

PROVIDED ME WITH A SOLID 

BACKGROUND FOR MUCH OF MY 

TIME IN THE COAST GUARD." 

very unusual. I was the only USCG representative 

for much of the time, and I could take care of the 

whole ship. These ships were originally T-2 tankers 

that were converted to container ships in Germany by 

inserting a container midbody to replace the original 

tanker midbody. The new conversion also replaced 

the bow and stern sections. I also was involved with 

some U.S. flag ship repairs and inspections in Japan, 

Taiwan, and the Philippines. When that project was 

finished, a very large Derrick Lay barge, an undersea 

pipe laying barge with a 1,200-ton capacity crane and 

accommodations for a large construction crew was 

being started on Tsuneishi in the Inland Sea about 

Johnson while stationed at Hawaii 

LORAN in (circa 1962). 


27

80 miles from Kobe. The barge was U.S. owned and 

flagged, so I inspected the construction of the barge. 

As that project was nearing completion, SeaLand had 

ordered the construction of 12 large container ships 

to be constructed in two shipyards in Japan and one 

in South Korea. The first ships of the project were to 

be constructed in Kobe, so I returned and picked up 

that project after the Polaris, the Derrick Lay Barge, 

was delivered. 

As the resident inspector, I had been technically 

assigned to the MIO in Guam. That was a rather 

awkward situation as all my inspection reports etc. 

had to be sent to Honolulu. So, there was actually 

little contact with the Guam office by me or by the 

"During my role as a marine 

inspector, I inspected almost 

every type of ship or boat 

licensed or inspected by the 

Coast Guard—from charter 

fishing boats carrying 

more than six passengers 

to a steam powered paddle 

wheeler...too many to count 

or remember." 

U.S. Merchant Marine industry. As the inspection 

work was picking up in Japan and in South Korea, it 

was decided to establish a marine inspection office 

in Kobe. I was assigned as the XO when the office 

was established. 

During my role as a marine inspector, I inspected 

almost every type of ship or boat licensed or 

inspected by the Coast Guard—from charter fishing 

boats carrying more than six passengers, to a steam 

powered paddle wheeler, wooden ferry boats, liberty 

ships, large passenger ships, and liquefied natural gas 

carriers. Too many to count or remember. 

For many, retirement from the Service is a 

Q: time of transition and new opportunities. 

How did you translate your Coast Guard service 

into a second career? 

When I became eligible for retirement after 20 

A: years of service, I decided that I should retire; 

and there appeared to be opportunities to work as an 

inspector or marine consultant. As soon as I retired, I 

started working as an inspector for Chevron Shipping, 

who were building six product tankers in Kobe. After 

that project wound down, I started to work for C.R. 

Cushing in New York City as an inspector. My first 

project with them was the construction of an 80,000- 

ton Ore Bulk Oil carrier (OBO) for lease to Cepsa, 

a Spanish oil firm. That was a fast-track project in 

Nagasaki, Japan. My wife and I moved to Nagasaki 

to oversee the construction and to review and approve 

the construction drawings for the project. That ship was 

delivered on the dollar and the day contracted. The 

owner and the lessee were extremely pleased with the 

ship. We then moved to South Korea with Cushing to 

inspect the construction of 12 of the largest container 

ships in the world at that time, each measuring over 

1,000 feet long. 

When the work in South Korea wound down, we 

decided to return to Seattle and enjoy our retirement. 

After about a year in Seattle, I decided that I should 

finally return to college. I graduated from the University 

of Washington’s College of Architecture with a degree 

in construction management. Although I started as a 

construction estimator and supervisor, the marine 

industry still called, and I became a marine consultant. 

I continued to work for several shipping companies 

including the ABS Industrial Verification and the Military 

Sealift Command. 

I have never truly retired. I still am working on our 

various properties and am a chaplain and co-pastor 

of a small church in Hawaii. 

Any final thoughts you want to share on 

Q: what the Coast Guard means to you? 

A: 

The Coast Guard is different than the other 

Services. While the other Services are focused 

on training or fighting, a lot of their time is spent in 

training. In the Coast Guard we learned by doing. 

During my time, Coast Guard’s primary mission was 

the protection of life and property at sea. That has 

changed somewhat in today’s Coast Guard, but it is 

still our underlying mission. In the Coast Guard you go 

to work every day, you have a mission and a focus. 

You are not training or fighting. The work that the Coast 

Guard does is always meaningful. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

HONOR. 

ENGAGE. 

EDUCATE. 

INSPIRE. 

JOIN US ON THE 

WALL OF PHILANTHROPY! 

SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO SERVICE – JOIN US! 

This is a unique opportunity to have your name, or that of a loved one, included on the wall of philanthropy in the spectacular 

atrium of the National Coast Guard Museum. Nearly 50 Coast Guard retirees, veterans, annuitants, and auxiliarists have 

already made commitments of $50,000 or more to secure their places. 

The National Coast Guard Museum wall of philanthropy will be more than a place for the museum to recognize its highwater 

mark donors. It will showcase the value of having individuals, groups, and organizations working together towards 

a common, greater goal and serve as a reminder to the positive impact philanthropy can have on a community. It will be a 

perfect place for Coast Guard families to preserve a legacy—inspiring current and future generations as to the importance 

of giving back. 

The professional staff at the Museum Association will help you explore the different methods of giving and opportunities for 

support. Katherine Bainbridge (kbainbridge@coastguardmuseum.org) is ready to answer your questions about joining 

our growing group of dedicated Coast Guard supporters on the wall of philanthropy! 

coastguardmuseum.org/donate-now 

info@coastguardmuseum.org 

www.CoastGuardMuseum.org @USCGMuseum @USCGMuseum 


29

THE SPRINGBOARD TO 50 

YEARS OF WOMEN’S SERVICE 

IN THE COAST GUARD 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

89 

RECRUIT 

COMPANY 

SIERRA 

891974 

Like all military branches after the Vietnam 

War, the United States Coast Guard 

was looking to fulfill their workforce 

requirements, which were impacted after 

conscription ended. To address this, 

a 1973 congressional act ended the Coast Guard 

Women's Reserve and opened eligibility for women 

to serve, alongside men, in both the regular Coast 

Guard and the Reserve. 


31

3 

Upper 

women began the 

grueling Coast Guard 

boot camp regimen 

left: Darlene Johnson and Dawn 

Zabel (right) are sworn into enlistment for 

the United States Coast Guard by BMC 

J.V. Harris in Hartford, CT. 

Upper right: Recruit Company Sierra 89 

at graduation. 

Bottom: Darlene Johnson parctices at a 

Coast Guard rifle range post boot camp. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

That situation was quickly rectified. 

A hair drying station, which Johnson 

describes as “Elizabeth Arden” quality, 

was installed in their barracks. 

After uniform requirements were met and 

their daily routine established, the need for 

additional training modifications surfaced. 

Seabag inspection created a dilemma for Chief 

Jones. As per protocol, the women were required 

to assemble all their authorized accouterments on 

their racks in a very specific order. However, these 

recruits had an additional undergarment that needed 

an agreed upon folding specification. Through 

lengthy and careful analysis, their good-natured and 

blushing chief (under the scrutinizing watch of the 

entire company) instructed and demonstrated how 

to fold braziers to pass inspection—right cup into 

the left, straps inside. 

In January 1974, the Coast Guard’s 10-week boot 

camp at Training Center Camp May, New Jersey, 

would be markedly different to those of the past 

184 years. Thirty-three women recruits would soon 

partake in the grueling boot camp regimen with 

hopes of entering the Coast Guard ranks. This allfemale 

class became Recruit Company Sierra 89, 

the vanguards of women’s enlistment as “regulars” 

into the Coast Guard. 

Dawn Zabel and Darlene Mclean Johnson were 

among the pioneering group of young women who 

worked their way through the recruitment process. 

They recently recounted some memories of this 

historic experience. While the arrival of the female 

company was carefully planned, they noted that 

there were still some immediate needs that their 

company commander, Chief Boatswain’s Mate 

Royce Jones, needed to address. Most notably, 

the lack of female uniforms in the inventory. This 

oversight required the recruits to train in their civilian 

clothing, including less than ideal garments like 

skirts. 

Zabel and Johnson also recalled the first time being 

woken up to reveille (signal sound) at zero dark thirty. 

Their male shipmates were dressed and in formation 

without delay. However, Chief Jones noticed that his 

company, while dressed and standing at attention, 

had no headcover. Sierra 89 endured their first 

formations in the bitter cold with dripping wet hair. 

Both Zabel and Johnson are quick to point out 

their respect for Chief Jones. He held them to the 

highest standard while dealing with the pressure of 

navigating the new territory, often under examination 

from the media. According to a 1974 article in the 

New York Times, Chief Jones remarked, “We’re 

trying to get the civilian out of them and get down to 

business. When they salute, they have a tendency 

to smile. If they smile, and you smile, pretty soon 

everyone is smiling, and you have a giggling 

company. And we can't have that.” 

The women’s transition into the Coast Guard was 

not without friction. Some male recruits were vocal in 

their resentment and raised concerns over increased 

sea-duty assignments—resulting from women filling 

the shoreside jobs. Chief Jones had no tolerance 

for negative remarks towards his recruit company. 

He said, “The women I’ve witnessed were highly 

motivated, serious, and inquisitive. They don’t mind 

coming out with a question. A guy, you tell him to 

go jump off a building, he’ll do it and ask questions 

later, if he’s living. The girls want to know why.” 

Thirty of the 33 female recruits completed the 

10-week training. Johnson adds that she was 

particularly honored with the unexpected peer 

recognition from her company as “Best Shipmate.” 

After boot camp, Coast Guard assignments were 

issued. At that time, all newly enlisted female recruits 

were required to meet eligibility standards to attend 


33

“A” school for one of six ratings: yeoman, storekeeper, 

hospital corpsman, photojournalist, dental technician, 

and musician. The Coast Guard guaranteed orders 

to Sierra 89 graduates to the school they qualified 

for and selected. Both Zabel and Johnson pursued 

the rating of storekeeper. They attended “A” school 

together in Groton, Connecticut. 

Zabel’s fi rst duty station was at the United States 

Coast Guard Academy, where she was assigned 

to the clothing locker. The comptroller felt it was a 

good idea to have a female petty offi cer conduct 

measurements on newly appointed female cadets 

(who started being admitted into the academy in 

1976). Zabel went on to serve a 22-year career. She 

retired at the rank of chief warrant officer in 1994. 

Johnson served her four-year enlistment and 

separated from the Coast Guard in 1978 as a 

storekeeper second class. 

By 1975, the Service had a total of 420 enlisted 

women and 32 female officers in its active-duty force. 

Some of the original Sierra 89 Company were among 

the first women permanently assigned to sea duty in 

1977. They served aboard the Coast Guard cutters 

Morgenthau and Munro. 

Since the arrival of Sierra 89, the Coast Guard has 

opened all career opportunities to women. As of 2023, 

over 5,800 women serve as Coast Guard active-duty 

members at all levels, from newly accessed non-rated 

personnel to commanding officers. 

Sierra 89 graduates Diane Ehrig, Darlene Johnson, Dawn 

Zabel, Debbie (maiden name Martin) Mason, Nancy 

Kadinger, Becky Burriate attending SK A School Petaluma. 

Nearly 50 years after the women of Sierra 89 

entered boot camp, Admiral Linda L. Fagan 

became the first woman to lead any branch of the 

U.S. Armed Forces. A 1985 Coast Guard Academy 

graduate, she became the 27th commandant in 

2022. As the highest-ranking officer in the Service, 

she oversees all global Coast Guard operations, 

which includes 42,000 active-duty, 7,000 reserve, 

and 8,700 civilian personnel, as well as supporting 

nearly 21,000 Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers. 

The Coast Guard has come a long way since 

Recruit Company Sierra 89’s inception, and the 

tremendous strides it has made to fully open its 

ranks to women over the past 50 years is certainly 

not an understatement. 

50years 

of women 

serving active 

duty in the 

U.S. Coast Guard 


THE LONG BLUE LINE


35

MCPOCG 

Q & 

A 

MCPOCG-R 

The National Coast Guard Museum Association 

had the opportunity to ask several questions 

regarding present day Coast Guard challenges 

in recruiting and retention to Master Chief Petty 

Officer of the Coast Guard Heath Jones and 

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve 

Tim Beard. They hold the two top enlisted positions 

within the Coast Guard and are relied upon by senior 

leadership to apply their years of experience and 

knowledge to guide the future of our Service. 

Throughout the Coast Guard community, we 

Q: are all aware of the challenges we face with 

recruitment and retention within the Service. 

Looking towards the future, what opportunities 

will the Coast Guard be pursuing to increase their 

ranks? 

MCPOCG: The Coast Guard stood up an Incident 

A: Management Team (IMT) to focus on the recruiting 

shortfall. The IMT is working in conjunction with Coast 

Guard Recruiting Command (CGRC) to implement 

some innovative strategies to enhance recruiting efforts 

and support our production recruiters. 

The IMT is focused on advancing three main lines 

of effort: generate more leads, improve recruiting 

processes, and increase CGRC performance and 

capacity. We are surging resources to CG Recruiting 

Command in the form of additional capacity— 

recruiters, new recruiting offices, and support staff. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE


37

To support our recruiting offices, we are reaching 

out to high-performing prior trained recruiters around 

the field to offer them the opportunity to come back 

and fill recruiting billets. This will immediately inject 

experienced capacity and help the Coast Guard fill 

workforce gaps. 

MCPO-CGR: We exceeded our Reserve enlisted 

recruiting goal of 650 accessions or reservations 

for the first time in five years. That is an amazing 

accomplishment! There are still going to be challenges 

ahead, but the improvements that CGRC has made to 

programs like lateral entry, where we can take a look 

at someone’s prior work experience, credentialing, 

etc., to determine if someone meets our professional 

standards and join the Coast Guard on Active Duty or 

as a member of the Reserve at a higher rank. 

Through relationships with technical and vocational 

schools, we can offer direct petty officer accessions for 

graduates and have fleet-ready petty officers. Certain 

schools already offer programs that earn graduates’ 

qualifications and certifications tied to careers as 

a Boatswain’s Mate, Electrician’s Mate or Culinary 

Specialist. Rating Force Master Chiefs are working 

to identify more programs whose graduates have the 

skills and abilities to serve as petty officers. 

Can you share with us the biggest obstacles 

Q: senior enlisted leaders are faced with today? 

MCPOCG: Right now, managing the challenges 

A: that come from our 10% shortage of the enlisted 

WE EXCEEDED OUR 

RESERVE ENLISTED 

RECRUITING GOAL OF 

650 ACCESSIONS OR 

RESERVATIONS FOR 

THE FIRST TIME IN 

FIVE YEARS. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

workforce is a major concern of mine. I see this as 

an opportunity to take a hard look at how we operate. 

Joshua James could walk into a Coast Guard Station 

today, and, after he got over the new things we use 

(like electricity), he could take over operations and run 

the unit. After 233 years, this is a chance to re-shape 

how we staff, operate, and maintain our units in a way 

that allows our people to complete their missions while 

showing them we value their efforts. 

The Coast Guard cannot maintain the same level of 

operations with our current shortfall—we cannot do 

the same with less. Our missions are often inherently 

dangerous, and doing so without enough crew puts our 

members and the American public at increased risk. 

To reduce this risk, we are prioritizing our missions, 

adapting our operations, and strategically reallocating 

personnel. 

MCPO-CGR: Keeping our Reserve workforce current 

in competencies and training is always an obstacle, 

especially when many are assigned to duty stations 

that are more than 150 miles from where they live. 

Until recently, those travel expenses were paid by 

the member without being reimbursed. To remove 

some of the administrative burden and get closer to 

benefits parity with the total workforce and Department 

of Defense, the new Inactive Duty Training–Travel 

Reimbursement Program recently went into effect for 

members E-6 and below who live more than 150 miles 

from their units. Covering travel expenses shows our 

commitment to our serving Reservists and removes a 

barrier for those who want to serve. 

Now that the Offshore Patrol Craft (OPC) 

Q: construction is back on course, what emerging 

technologies, platforms, and equipment will the 

operational Coast Guard (active, reserve, and 

auxiliary) be employing in the future? 

MCPOCG: The world is changing at an everaccelerating 

pace. Across the Coast Guard we are 

A: 

looking at innovative ways that technology will help us 

to protect, defend, and save. At the individual level we 

have implemented the DoD Integrated Phone System, 

which creates a unique phone number that will ring 

on any workstation, issued mobile device or personal 

computer connected to DoD365. Even underway on 

cutters, members will be able to connect with loved 

ones, detailers, contractors, etc. without the need of a 

traditional “phone.” 

We have to leverage new and evolving technologies to 

drive change within the Coast Guard, and the Auxiliary 

is a huge part of that. The Office of Data Analytics is 

partnering with more than 50 Auxiliarists to support 

maritime object detection algorithms, to use with 

unmanned aerial systems to allow for better, faster 


39

decision making in how we deploy our assets. We have 

also expanded the Auxiliary role in the cyber realm by 

chartering the first virtual Cyberspace Flotilla to work 

with Coast Guard Cyber Command. 

MCPO-CGR: When we talk about easing administrative 

burdens on our people, technology is going to have a 

lot to do with how our processes and procedures are 

going to evolve. From Gangway, which is the mobile 

application our recruiters are going to use to streamline 

the 127 forms a recruit must complete as part of the 

enlistment process to totally transforming our talent 

management system to help people achieve success 

throughout their careers, we have to leverage new tools 

as they become available. Equipping our workforce 

with the modern boats, planes and equipment will be 

even more effective when we make sure we have the 

right people in the right places. 

Throughout our 233-year history, the Coast 

Q: Guard has countless stories of impact, heroism, 

trailblazing, camaraderie, and innovation. Would 

you share a personal Coast Guard story with our 

readers? 

MCPOCG: A Coast Guard hero I wish more 

A: people knew about is LT Carlton Skinner, executive 

officer of the USS Sea Cloud in 1943 and someone 

who changed the face of history. He oversaw the first 

experiment in racial integration on a U.S. warship when 

he sent a memorandum up the chain-of-command 

proposing that giving African American and white 

sailors equality onboard a ship would make operations 

run smoother and allow the right talents to be matched 

with the right jobs. He was a champion of civil rights, 

and what was thought of as a radical hypothesis at the 

time is a concept we embrace and celebrate today. 

MCPO-CGR: On March 20, 2003, Operation Iraqi 

Freedom, or the second Iraq War, began and the 

USCG Reserve Port Security Units played a vital role by 

bringing vital capabilities to the theater of operations. 

Coalition forces comprising of SEALs and Marine 

FAST forces secured two Iraqi Gas and Oil Platforms 

(GOPLATs) known as Khor al-Amaya Oil Terminal 

(KAAOT) and Mina al Bakr Oil Terminal (MABOT). 

After the terminals had been cleared of Iraqi troops, 

explosives, and weapons, PSUs 311 and 313 arrived 

to take control of the facilities. 

On March 22, just a day after the PSUs arrived aboard 

the facilities, a storm struck with high seas and gale 

force winds. It was the largest storm in the North 

Arabian Gulf in 20 years. At MABOT, a Navy landing 

craft suffered damage after the storm swept it under the 

A COAST GUARD HERO 

I WISH MORE PEOPLE 

KNEW ABOUT IS LT 

CARLTON SKINNER, 

EXECUTIVE OFFICER 

OF THE USS SEA 

CLOUD IN 1943 

AND SOMEONE WHO 

CHANGED THE FACE OF 

HISTORY. 

oil terminal, and MABOT’s causeway broke off with the 

loss of supplies temporarily stacked on it, including food 

and a sophisticated radar set to be deployed on the 

platform as part of an early warning system. PSU 313’s 

25-foot small boats also began to suffer storm damage, 

so the boat crews got underway. After navigating the 

treacherous seas for hours, the exhausted crews 

realized their boats had run dangerously low on fuel 

and radioed for assistance. High-endurance Cutter 

Boutwell and buoy tender Walnut arrived and returned 

the boats safely to MABOT. The Walnut also retrieved 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

MABOT’s drifting causeway and towed it to KNB. A 

second storm hit the Northen Persian Gulf a few days 

later, but it caused less damage to the GOPLATs than 

the first. 

For the first four days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 

security members from the PSU 313 guarded and 

secured 41 Iraqi prisoners on MABOT until they could 

be detained elsewhere by coalition forces. This is not 

a typical CG function, but the people performed it 

flawlessly and professionally. 

PSU members on both terminals found the living 

quarters filthy and rat-infested, so the Coast Guardsmen 

set out to make the platforms livable. Over time, living 

conditions improved and service members set into a 

routine. Many times over the next three months both 

platforms were visited by curious Iranian patrol boats, 

which approached the terminals and video-taped its 

Coast Guard inhabitants. 

These terminals were vital to the security of Iraq, with 

more than 80% of the nation’s oil being exported 

through the terminals. Even though PSUs are not 

typically used to secure facilities like this, the Navy 

realized we were the perfect fit to perform the mission. 

In June 2003, the platforms were turned back over 

to the Iraqis and the first oil tanker moored up to the 

platform. 

This mission was a testament to the flexibility and 

professionalism of our ability to work together as a 

Coast Guard team and overcome austere conditions 

and perform the mission. 

The Commandant has indicated that the 

Q: National Coast Guard Museum is her top 

philanthropic priority. A free national museum to 

honor the service of all, what are your hopes and 

vision for this museum? 

MCPOCG: The National Coast Guard Museum 

A: will play a crucial role in preserving the history and 

heritage of the Service. The artifacts, documents, and 

exhibits that chronicle the achievements, sacrifices, 

and traditions of our Sentinels will make sure the 

legacy of the Coast Guard and our brave women 

and men is not lost to time. The museum will inspire 

and motivate our total workforce by showcasing the 

achievements and bravery of those who came before 

them, remind our Sentinels of the sacrifices made by 

their predecessors, and the importance of their own 

missions. 

MCPO-CGR: Service museums serve as invaluable 

repositories of history and knowledge, providing 

resources for education, inspiration, and leadership 

development. They also play a significant role in 

fostering a strong sense of identity and community 

within the military and connecting it to the broader 

society it serves. I hope that everyone who visits the 

National Coast Guard Museum comes away with a 

better understanding of not only our missions, but the 

people who did such extraordinary things. 

What are you most excited about for the 

Q: future? 

MCPOCG: We have some challenges that we’re 

A: working through, whether they be workforce 

related, or trying to keep performing the vital missions 

the Nation expects and deserves with aging assets 

and infrastructure that needs to be upgraded and 

modernized. What I’m most excited about, and 

confident in, is our people. The caliber of women and 

men getting off the buses in Cape May or arriving for 

day 1 at the Academy is second to none. I’ve had 

the opportunity to visit Training Centers Cape May, 

Yorktown, and Petaluma recently and the recruits and 

students there inspire me every day. These folks are 

showing up at their first units ready to charge the gates 

of hell with a squirt gun. It’s not just my Coast Guard 

that I’m excited to be a part of, it’s the Service that 

they’ll be leading someday. 

MCPO-CGR: Whether on the Reserve, Active Duty, 

civilian, or Auxiliary side of the workforce, we have 

leadership in place from the commandant on down that 

is willing to take a hard look at processes and policies. 

If someone has a better way of doing business, those 

ideas are heard, explored, and if it’s determined the 

changes will make things better, the changes can be 

made. Being in the environment where “that’s the way 

we’ve always done it” isn’t the way we’re doing it, is 

very exciting. 


41

PORTRAITS OF SERVICE 

There are thousands of untold stories that are not in the history books. The Long Blue Line 

is a fantastic platform to share your personal journeys from the diverse mission sets of the 

Coast Guard. 

We are excited to provide a place where readers can share their Coast Guard story. 

We’ve made it easy for you with a simple questionnaire at coastguardmuseum.org/ 

retirees TELL YOUR STORY! 

BMCM Diane Bucci, USCG (Ret.) 

Bradenton, FL 

Retired United States Coast Guard Boatswain’s 

Mate Master Chief Diane Bucci has always 

blazed new trails. After retiring in 2002 as the 

Atlantic Area’s command master chief, Diane 

and her number one crewmember, her beloved 

husband retired USCG Boatswain’s Mate Master 

Chief Rocky Bucci, set sail on a six-month journey 

on their 38-foot Hans Christian sailboat. They 

navigated their way to Florida and the Bahamian 

Islands. Their escapades eventually led them back 

to a familiar place—Bradenton, Florida, where 

Diane once served as officer in charge at the local 

Coast Guard station. Eventually, the lure of the sea 

quieted down, and they sold the boat and settled 

down. 

Diane began working for a home health agency as 

a scheduler/intake coordinator. Her dedication and 

drive led to an office manager position. However, 

when the business was sold to a large corporation, 

she returned to the freedom of retirement. 

Diane’s newly retired status didn’t slow her down. 

She reengaged with her military veteran community 

through Honor Flight San Diego, which is a group 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

of dedicated volunteers who escort veterans to 

Washington, D.C., to visit national memorials. 

Veterans often conveyed to Diane that they have 

felt underrecognized, that their service to our 

nation was not as deserving as those who made 

the ultimate sacrifi ce. Diane recalls one Vietnam 

veteran declaring the Honor Flight mission was 

“too little, too late,” and that the country was too 

slow to recognize the Vietnam era’s service to the 

nation. However, that sentiment had changed by 

their return fl ight. The same veteran expressed to 

Diane, “So many people say thank you for your 

service, but they don’t really mean it. You people 

(Honor Flight volunteers) really mean it.” Diane 

understands the tremendous value in honoring 

every veteran and has remained in contact with 

each veteran she has escorted. 

In addition to Honor Flight, Diane also conducts 

oral history interviews with Coast Guard SPARS 

(the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve). The SPARS 

are a group of amazing women who crossed the 

military gender barrier to serve their country during 

WWII. Like their young male counterparts, they too 

made the decision to serve, leaving their families 

and friends for unknown circumstances. 

Diane and her close friend, retired USCG LCDR 

Holly Shaffner, had the honor of accompanying 

SPAR RM2 Gena Fischle from San Diego to a 

commandant’s change of command ceremony 

in D.C. During their trip, they visited the Military 

Women’s Memorial. While at the memorial, Gena 

was surprised to learn that she was being honored 

with a lifetime achievement award for her service. 

At the ceremony, Gena had the privilege of ringing 

the ship’s bell from Coast Guard cutter SPAR (W 

403)—a treasured artifact. It was a cherished 

moment when the ceremonies’ attendees gave her 

a standing ovation. 

Diane continues to play a vital part in keeping the 

extended Coast Guard community connections 

strong. Looking ahead, Diane has another 

adventure on the horizon. Early in her retirement, 

she and her husband purchased a “project” boat 

to rehab. Once the boat is fi nished and the timing 

is right, they plan on setting sail once again. 

Left: Dianne Bucci with USCG LCDR Holly Shaffner and SPAR RM2 

Gena Fischle at the commandant's change of command ceremony. 

Right: USCG vetran Tim Woodruff, and ambassador for Honor Flights 

San Diego in Washington, D.C. 

THE LONG BLUE LINE 


43

U.S. Coast Guard Golf Team 

Story submitted by: MUC Laura Pirruccello, USCG 

This past September, the Coast Guard formed 

its first independent golf team, rather than being 

absorbed by the Navy golf team. They competed 

in the men’s and women’s Armed Forces National 

Championship in San Diego, CA. Active duty and 

active-duty reserve golfers were invited from the 

Air Force, Space Force, Marines, Army, Navy, and 

Coast Guard. Services went head-to-head in a 

4-day tournament with the goal of qualifying for the 

International Military Sports Council (CISM), which 

was created in 1948 to promote worldwide friendship 

through competition. While the Coast Guard didn’t 

qualify for CISM or take home any trophies, there 

were still memorable takeaways. 

This was Marine Science Technician Zachary 

Rudy’s fifth time competing in the tournament; he 

placed first for the Coast Guard men’s division. “It 

was an honor to play on the first Coast Guard team 

and have more ownership with the experience. I 

competed on the Navy team that took second place 

in 2019, and I hope the word gets out to players 

who have the potential to make the Coast Guard 

team.” Chief Warrant Officer Ken Collins coached 

the team and was instrumental in its formation. He 

says, “We received 43 golf applicants in our first 

year, so I'm very optimistic about what's to follow 

in 2024. Next year, we're taking the program to the 

next level by introducing a team qualifier in April. It's 

our commitment to find the best of the best golfers.” 

Candidates can apply for a qualifying spot on the 

National Coast Guard Golf Team through the Coast 

Guard message board, ALCGPSC. The top seeded 

players will then compete in the International Armed 

Forces Tournament in Zimbabwe in the fall of 2024. 

The competitors united as athletes and got to know 

each other during the rounds. Some say that golf isn’t 

really a workout; however, anyone on this golf team 

would disagree. Golfers began practice at 0700, 

teeing off as the sun was drying the dew on the grass. 

Golf carts were prohibited. Golfers walked close to 

5 miles a day while pushing or carrying about 30 

pounds of equipment in all weather conditions and 

changes in elevation. Some days had intermittent rain 

with umbrellas constantly opening and closing while 

trying to keep their equipment dry. Other days had 

the bright, blistering sun beating down on them. The 

camaraderie built during this experience promoted 

mutual understanding with a spirit of honor, solidarity, 

sportsmanship, and friendship. Once this foundation 

was established, it opened the door to meaningful 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

discussions about similarities and differences 

between our rates and Services and created 

potential to work together in the future. 

First place in the Coast Guard women’s division 

was Chief Musician Laura Pirruccello, who is 

also the piccoloist of the world-renowned 

Coast Guard Band. Pirruccello states, “One of 

the primary missions of our organization is to 

promote goodwill for the Coast Guard, including 

performances that use music to transcend 

boundaries and promote peace.” In her career, 

the band has worked with other countries 

such as Japan, Taiwan, Australia, France, 

and other Asian-Pacific nations to collaborate 

musically. Musicians put all differences aside 

to create something beautiful while promoting 

international pride for who they represent. 

“It gives me so much joy to use music in 

this way. It uniquely serves as an effective 

diplomatic enabler and speaks to human 

inter-connectivity and the shared desire for 

peace,” says Pirruccello. The Coast Guard 

Band is the only musical representation for 

all the Department of Homeland Security 

and helps with recruitment, educational 

outreach, and visibility. The band reaches 

more than 4.5 million people globally every 

year. 

To land a job with the Coast Guard Band, a musician 

spends an average of 15 years training with the very 

best instructors prior to an audition. This level of 

commitment, discipline, and dedication prepares a 

musician to audition and ultimately win a job. Less 

than 0.5% of collegiate-level musicians will earn a 

full-time performance position with an orchestra or 

military band. The piccolo position with the Coast 

Guard Band has had one vacancy in the past 46 

years. 

The parallels of a professional musician and 

nationally competitive golfer provide opportunities 

for growth. Preparation to perform either on stage 

or on the golf course is similar, with countless 

hours practicing refining technique, self-assessing 

ways to improve, and keeping oneself mentally in 

Left: 

Back Row: CWO3 Kenneth Collins, Communications Command, 

Chesapeake, VA 

LTJG Joshua Baer, Communications Command, Chesapeake, VA 

LCDR Todd Stephens, Air Station Borinquen, Aguadilla, PR 

CWO4 Brian Robson, Maritime Intel Fusion Center, Alameda, CA 

PO2 Zachery Rudy, SECTOR Anchorage, Anchorage, AK 

PO2 Michael Schlemeyer, Station Umpqua River, Windchester Bay, OR 

PO2 Nichaolas Marshall, SECTOR Columbia River, Portland, OR 

Front row: PO1 Bethany Teichert, Air Station Kodiak, Kodiak, AK 

CPO Laura Pirruccello, Coast Guard Band, New London, CT 

PO1 Danielle Deaver, Training Center Yorktown, Yorktown, VA 

Right: 

CPO Laura Pirruccello and her father, retired USAFA LT Col Steve 

Rakel, hitting the links. 


45

check. Pirruccello adds, “Being a part of this historic 

Coast Guard golf team was an unbelievable honor. 

Although sometimes the harder I try, the worse I get. 

The goal is not to win but to participate and continue 

to improve as a golfer and person. Constantly trying 

to figure out new ways to approach and change old 

habits pushes me to continue to learn. I’ve done 

this successfully in music, and now I’m putting this 

energy into golf with help from my swing coach, Sue 

Cart, of Stonington Country Club. Golf is thankfully 

a sport where you can peak later in life through 

constant trial and error.” 

When looking at specific and measurable impact, 

it is important to consider how change takes time, 

but it starts with experiences and conversations. 

Playing a round of golf with other service members 

or playing a Sousa march with the Japanese Coast 

Guard Band, can make us more aware of how 

connected we truly are. 

CPO Laura Pirruccello pauses for a photo in front of the Armed Forces 

and CISM World Military Golf Championship sign. 

2023 Coast Guard Golf Team Members 

• PO1 Danielle Deaver, Training Center 

Yorktown, VA 

• PO1 Bethany Teichert, Air Station Kodiak, AK 

• CPO Laura Pirruccello, U.S. Coast Guard 

Academy, New London, CT 

• LTJG Joshua Baer, Communications 

Command, Chesapeake, VA 

• PO2 Nicholas Marshall, Sector Columbia 

River, Portland, OR 

• CWO4 Brian Robson, Maritime Intel Fusion 

Center, Alameda, CA 

• PO2 Zack Rudy, Sector Anchorage, AK 

• PO2 Michael Schlemeyer, Station Umpqua 

River, Winchester Bay, OR 

• LCDR Todd Stephens, Air Station Borinquen, 

Aguadilla, Puerto Rico 


THE LONG BLUE LINE


47

AMC John Chassereau, Sr., USCG (Ret.) 

St. Petersburg, FL 

It was a dark Monday evening on January 28, 

1980, when a catastrophic collision occurred 

between the United States Coast Guard Cutter 

Blackthorn (WLB 391) and the U.S. registered 

tanker Capricorn. 

Blackthorn was headed outbound from the Sunshine 

Skyway Bridge, which spans the entrance to 

Tampa Bay, Florida. Blackthorn became entangled 

in the Capricorn’s anchor chain, resulting in the 

Blackthorn’s capsizing. 

Twenty-three of Blackthorn’s crew lost their lives. 

After the accident, the Coast Guard made a 

commitment to never allow their sacrifices to go 

unrecognized. Shortly after the collision, they 

organized an annual memorial service, which is still 

attended today by family and friends throughout the 

country. 

Initially, the Shipfitters Union in Tampa (rather than 

the Coast Guard) announced the establishment 

of a memorial fund to honor the Blackthorn crew. 

When United States Coast Guard Aviation Structural 

Mechanic Chief John Chassereau became aware of 

this situation, he felt the Coast Guard not taking the 

lead on the memorial fund would be an oversight. 

Chassereau, who was a member of the Sun Coast 

Chief Petty Officers Association, presented the case 

to his fellow association members. They agreed it 

was their responsibility to ensure the lost shipmates 

were never forgotten and that their sacrifice was 

properly recognized. 

Fulfilling their obligation, the Sun Coast Chief Petty 

Officers Association established the Blackthorn 

Memorial Fund. They designed and purchased a 

large granite monument containing the names of the 

crewmembers who lost their lives. Spearheaded by 

Chassereau, the association received authorization 

from the State of Florida to erect the monument 

along the Sunshine Skyway bridge, in a northside 

rest area before the span begins on the Saint 

Petersburg side. Organizing a volunteer work 

party, the association members constructed and 

poured a concreate pad for the memorial. Several 

local nurseries donated plants, shrubs, and trees to 

beautify this memorial space. 

The USCGC Blackthorn memorial site in St. Petersburg, Florida 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

During the early years of the Blackthorn memorial 

services, attending family members were picked 

up at Tampa Airport by local Coast Guard chiefs 

and transported to the beach at the Keystone 

Motel, where Chief Chassereau and his wife also 

stayed before the ceremony. Additionally, families 

were provided with excursions to local amusement 

parks and organized meals at area restaurants, 

enabling them to enjoy each other’s fellowship and 

remembrance of their loved ones. 

After several years, there was some discussion 

about discontinuing the annual event. That didn’t 

sit well with Chassereau, prompting his response, 

“… it’s not about the Coast Guard, it is the families. 

No one has to poke them with a sharp stick to 

remind them that there is an empty seat at the family 

dinner table on Thanksgiving and Christmas.” The 

possibility of the annual event being eliminated 

inspired even greater support that helped preserve 

its long-standing continuation. 

Chassereau crossed the bar on November 29, 2005, 

after a lengthy battle with cancer. Several years 

before Chassereau’s passing, his son, retired Master 

Chief Petty Officer John Chassereau, Jr., took the 

baton. His father made him promise to continue his 

efforts for as long as the families were able to attend. 

Chassereau, Jr., who has been serving as master 

of ceremonies to this day, continues the same 

close correspondence with Blackthorn families as 

his father did, and ensures every detail is handled 

before their arrival. 

After 43 years, the ceremony has grown to 

include service representatives from 11 military 

organizations, who present wreaths in the crew’s 

honor. During the proceedings, a “cutterman’s 

salute” is conducted while each name is called out, 

a rose placed at the foot of the monument, and the 

ship’s bell is rung in memory of those not present. 

Each year, Chassereau, Jr., concludes the program 

with the following: 

On behalf of the Blackthorn Memorial Committee, 

let me thank you for the encouragement your 

presence here today gives us in this 43rd 

year. Our resolve is that programs such as 

this, honoring the memory of our Blackthorn 

shipmates, shall continue as an annual event 

because of your presence here. The Memorial 

will continue to be maintained with the dignity 

and respect rightly deserved of a memorial park. 

If you are in the Tampa Bay area on January 28, 

you are encouraged to visit the north rest area at 11 

a.m. (or 1 p.m. when it falls on a Sunday) and join 

in the remembrance of those who lost their lives on 

the Blackthorn that tragic night. 

TELL US YOUR 

STORY 

Tell us your incredible Coast Guard stories and 

what the National Coast Guard Museum means to 

you, and your profile may be featured in the next 

issue of the Long Blue Line. 

www.coastguardmuseum.org/retirees 


49

U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION AUXILIARY 

Master-at-Arms 

Second Class 

Gary Rodriguez, 

U.S. Navy 

Reserve (USNR), 

was looking to engage in 

community service beyond his 

Navy Reserve billet. He was 

aware of the USCG Auxiliary 

and found the closest flotilla 

to him, Flotilla 69, Opa-locka, 

holds their monthly meetings 

at CG Air Station Miami. “The 

Auxiliary has a diversity in 

ideas and a desire to help 

the Coast Guard in their 

mission sets,” Rodriguez said. 

It felt like a perfect fit, and 

he enrolled in the Auxiliary 

during the summer of 2020. 

At the time, the pandemic was 

raging, face-to-face meetings 

were on hold, and interaction 

with the public was restricted. 

After Auxiliarist Rodriguez 

completed his FEMA courses 

and his Core Training 

was behind him, flotilla 

leadership directed his 

attention to the numerous 

mission area training 

programs. His goal was to 

gain more understanding 

of the organization while 

helping the local community. 

About two months into his 

Auxiliary service, he joined 

the Operational Auxiliarist 

(AUXOP) program. AUXOP 

provided him a well-rounded 

perspective about the Auxiliary 

and all that the organization 

does. He quickly poured over 

the books (so to speak) and 

completed all the necessary 

courses to become AUXOP 

qualified in just a few weeks. 

Gary’s first exposure with 

active-duty Coast Guard 

occurred when Sector Miami 

Commander, Captain Jo-Anne 

Burdian (now rear admiral) 

needed someone to assist at 

the front desk. Working in the 

office of then-Captain Burdian 

gave Auxiliarist Rodriguez 

firsthand experience with 

Coast Guard officers. 

His military bearing and 

professional demeanor were 

qualities that were noticed. 

Captain Burdian treated 

him as part of the team and 

encouraged him to become 

involved with leadership at 

Sector Miami. 

Gary continued taking classes, 

now focusing his attention on 

marine safety, a subject he 

feels passionate about. Upon 

qualifying in Marine Safety, 

he was appointed Flotilla 

Staff Officer-Marine Safety 

(FSO-MS) where he engaged 

with the active-duty Marine 


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Botttom: Coast Guard Reserve Commissioning 

Ceremony at Station Miami Beach on August 

5, 2023. USCG Auxiliary photo by Brian 

Lichtenstein. 

AUXILIARY 

Top: Coast Guard Auxiliary shipmates present a challenge coin 

to Ensign Gary Rodriguez, USCGR, after his commissioning 

ceremony held at the Coast Guard Base, Miami Beach on August 

5, 2023. From left, Fred Ross, David Patlak, Flotilla Commander, 

ENS Gary Rodriguez, USCGR, and Brian Lichtenstein. U.S. Navy 

photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class MC1 Nataila 

Murrillo. 

Middle: Friends, family, and shipmates from USCG Auxiliary and 

U.S. Navy Reserve attend the Commissioning Ceremony for Ensign 

Gary Rodriguez. USCG Auxiliary photo by Brain Lichtenstein. 

Science Technicians (MST) 

at Sector Miami. He aspires 

to contribute significantly to 

environmental protection and 

play a vital role in advancing 

the Coast Guard's commitment 

to environmental stewardship. 

In short order, he assumed 

the position of Division Staff 

Officer-Marine Safety (SO- 

MS), thereby fostering a 

deeper and more impactful 

connection between activeduty 

MST personnel and the 

CG Auxiliary. He is driven and 

eager to contribute towards 

improvements. “I enjoyed my 

time assisting active duty. They 

were always welcoming of my 

input and considered me part 

of the family,” he told me. 

While he was working with 

the Sector, Auxiliarist Gary 

Rodriguez submitted his 

paperwork to enlist in the 

U.S. Coast Guard Reserve 

(USCGR). On Saturday, 

August 5, 2023, Ensign Gary 

Rodriguez was commissioned 

into the officer corps of 

the USCGR. Present at the 

ceremony were members 

of his family, sailors from 

his previous Navy Reserve 

unit, a few friends, and three 

shipmates from Flotilla 69, 

Opa-locka. We congratulate 

ENS Gary Rodriguez, USCGR, 

for his dedication to duty 

and willingness to serve his 

country. 

U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION 


51


Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary 

and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 

members training together. Left 

to Right: Mike Walz, Canadian 

Auxiliarist, and Marcus Calo, Flotilla 

Twelve Detroit. 

2023 

9 CENTRAL 

BOAT SCHOOL: 

All have 

daily surface 

training 

scenarios 

that will 

exercise 

the skill 

qualifications 

for coxswain, 

crew, and 

trainees. 

The Charlevoix Flotilla, 

Glen Stolt FC, and 

Coast Guard Station 

Charlevoix sponsored 

the annual Boat School 

from June 9 through 11, 2023. 

The goal of Boat School is to 

get crew and coxswains with 

their PQS complete, qualified 

by a QE check ride, and 

advancing those working toward 

these goals. It was a great 

success. About 40 total USCG 

Auxiliary members attended 

from Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, 

and Michigan. Seven flotillas 

from District 91, Division 26, 

16, 18, 20, 22, and 30 were in 

attendance. 

The Canadian Coast Guard 

Auxiliary (CCGA) participated 

again this year with four 

members and their facility 

“Kracken.” CCGA has sent a 

team every year since 2017. 

Working with the CCGA 

has been a bonus to both 

Auxiliaries. They are well 

equipped and very experienced 

with search and rescue (SAR). 

The information and techniques 

shared are interesting and 

valuable. The CCGA is the 

search and rescue for Canada 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

PARTNERING 

WITH OUR 

CANADIAN 

COUNTERPARTS 

as they regularly search forests 

for missing persons and 

rescue mariners in lakes. They 

have well equipped facilities 

with tools to do their missions 

efficiently. During the Boat 

School patrols and fellowship 

time, many real situations and 

solutions are shared with USCG 

Aux members. The Charlevoix 

Boat School offers a condensed 

program to get their new 

members “immediately useful” 

by having a broad spectrum of 

training in one weekend. The 

CCGA is always a welcome 

presence at the event, and we 

U.S. Coast Guard 

Station Charlevoix. 

Auxiliary members, Mike 

English, Dick Lavanture, Sue 

Carter practice towing. 

have started conversations 

about working with them in Sault 

St. Marie. 

The weekend program kicked 

off at noon on Friday with lunch, 

orientation, and a safety briefing. 

Then, the qualified examiner 

checked rides on Friday and 

Saturday for those who were 

ready. All have daily surface 

training scenarios that exercise 

The 

weekend 

started 

on Friday 

about noon 

with lunch, 

orientation, 

and a safety 

briefing. 

About 40 total 

USCG Auxiliary 

members 

attended from 

Minnesota, 

Indiana, 

Ohio, and 

throughout 

Michigan. 

the skill qualifications for 

coxswain, crew, and trainees. 

Exercises in navigation, night 

operations, towing, anchoring, 

SAR patterns, two boat 

scenarios, knots, heaving 

line, firefighting, and more 

were all offered. One scenario 

involved Aux Air Search and 

Rescue missions utilizing a 

Traverse City Flotilla aircraft. 

The exercise involved locating 

a lost kayak and a person in 

the water and then directing 

surface units for their recovery. 

Auxiliarists also spent time 

performing refresher classroom 

training in SAR, navigation, and 

communications. Completing 

all the scenarios will also 

complete your annual currency 

requirements. Sunday was a 

backup day if weather did not 

cooperate or a travel day for 

our out-of-town guests. If you 

AUXILIARY 



53


participate in all the Boat School 

offers, you can complete your 

on-water CRW/CX training signoffs! 

This year’s addition was to 

include AUXCOM. Their mobile 

command communications 

trailer handled the event comms 

and advanced Aux members 

seeking TCO qualifications! 

Dave Montgomery operated the 

Traverse City mobile command 

communications trailer and 

qualified two members in 

Auxiliary communication and 

advancing trainees. The trailer 

assumed all communication 

watch standing for Coast 

Guard Station Charlevoix over 

a 48-hour period. This initiative 

provided both real-world training 

for Auxiliary members and 

much needed relief for activeduty 

watch standers at Coast 

Guard Station Charlevoix. The 

communications trailer was 

acquired two years ago by a 

group of flotilla members and 

fitted with various radios to 

handle all communications. The 

mobile facility has operated at 

the Coast Guard Traverse City 

Air Station for air and surface 

operations during SAR training 

and training exercises in Elk 

Rapids, Michigan. 

Boat School utilized six surface 

facilities from four Flotillas, 

Traverse City, Charlevoix, 

Upper Great Lakes, and one 

boat from the Canadian Coast 

Guard Auxiliary, Sault Saint 

Marie, Ontario, which has 

been actively involved for more 

than five years. The facilities 

allowed for many additional 

towing evolutions, SAR training 

exercises, flotilla aviation 

support from the Traverse City 

Air Station, maritime training, 

and numerous crew overboard 

drills throughout the training 

weekend. In addition to all the 

extensive daytime training, 

coxswains performed night 

operations to qualify crew and 

coxswain for their nighttime 

qualifications. 

Auxiliary culinary assistants 

prepared more than 200 meals 

in Station Charlevoix's galley. 

Lynda Stolt, Deb and Robert 

Kerr, and COMO Sue Thurlow 

cooked delicious foods and 

desserts for Coast Guard Active 

Duty, Reserve, Coast Guard 

Academy Cadets, and Auxiliary 

members in attendance. 

Charlevoix's 2023 Boat 

School was another great 

success, with eight new 

coxswains and crewmembers 

and the requalification of 

seven previously qualified 

crewmembers. Most divisions 

and flotillas from District 91, 

Ninth Central, look forward 

to this annual program in 

Charlevoix, Michigan—pulled 

together throughout the year by 

Charlevoix Flotilla 26-02. The 

program’s training is always 

excellent; the fellowship and 

friendships created last a 

lifetime. 

Planning has already begun 

for the 2024 Charlevoix Boat 

School. Again, seats will be 

limited to 50, and we will be 

looking for facilities that can 

trailer in. The primary mission 

of Charlevoix Boat School is 

to keep 091-26 OPS qualified, 

but any extra seats are open 

to ALL AUX. Everyone should 

try to attend. It is a fun and 

resourceful weekend. 

Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary 

members with U.S. Coast Auxiliary 

member Marcus Calo. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE


55

U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION ACTIVE DUTY 

ATTENTION 

ON DECK! 

Retirees are critical to tackling significant CG enlisted shortage 

Retirees have historically contributed to the Coast 

Guard’s recruiting goals by referring candidates to 

recruiters. The Coast Guard needs you now more 

than ever because answering the recruiting call 

requires an “all hands” effort and the Service needs 

your help to fill critical shortages in the enlisted 

ranks. The gaps that all units are experiencing put 

a strain on members at all levels and impact the 

Service’s ability to execute its missions. 

Currently, the Coast Guard has a non-rate shortage 

of almost 50% and these shortages are already 

affecting the petty officer ranks as well. If the 

current recruiting and retention environment 

continues, it will affect senior enlisted ranks in 

the coming years. 

Who would have thought only a few 

years ago, that finding personnel 

to fill critical ratings such as BMs 

and ASTs would be so difficult? 

These are exciting jobs that 

should be attracting recruits in a 

thrill-seeking society, but here we 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

are stretched to keep our patrol boats afloat and our 

helicopters in the air with qualified lifesaving and 

maintenance personnel. 

To put this in perspective, the Coast Guard is in 

competition with other branches of the military, 

small businesses, and corporations to attract high 

quality candidates in a job market that averages 

around 3.5% unemployment. It’s an “employee’s 

market,” with employment continuing to trend up 

in government, health care, social assistance, 

and construction while trending away from military 

service. If this continues, the impact will have 

profound consequences on the Coast Guard, other 

military branches, and the Nation. 

As cited in a recent Wall Street Journal interview, 

Adm. Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint 

Chiefs of Staff stated, “Influencers are not telling 

[young people] to go into the military. Moms and 

dads, uncles, coaches, and pastors don’t see 

it as a good choice.” He continued to say, “Low 

unemployment rates here at home also play a 

role. The labor market is the tightest it has been in 

230728-G-OY189-0016 or 230728-G-OY189-0011: Want to organize 

your own recruiting or brand awareness event? Promotional kits 

with recruiting materials can be requested through the Recruiting 

Liaison Coordinators. The promotional kit includes your very own 

Coast Guard embroidered backpack to keep, along with items such 

as handouts, water bottles, wristbands and hats to distribute at your 

recruiting or branding event. 

4 

EASY WAYS 

TO ASSIST THE 

RECRUITING 

EFFORT: 

1 

Share and repost content from 

@GoCoastGuard on Facebook, 

Instagram and YouTube accounts 

and use the hashtag #GoCoastGuard. 

Also, sharing recruiting content on 

platforms that CGRC does not have 

accounts for, specifically, Twitter and 

LinkedIn would cast an even wider net. 

2 

Wear and display Coast Guard 

branded clothing such as t-shirts, 

hats, license plates, and coffee 

mugs. 

3 

Refer 

someone from your network 

that results in an enlistment and 

earn a $1,000 cash award through 

the Scout Talent and Refer (STAR) 

program. 

4 

Retirees 

that continue to serve 

in the Coast Guard Auxiliary can 

participate in the CGRC Officer 

Ambassadors program, a nationwide 

effort that utilizes volunteer, Active 

Duty, Reserve, and Auxiliary personnel 

to assist the Coast Guard Recruiting 

Command and its recruiting offices. 

Contact your local recruiting office for 

more information at: 

GoCoastGuard.com 

ACTIVE DUTY 



57

U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION ACTIVE DUTY 

decades, meaning plenty of other options exist for 

young people right out of school.” 

According to Military.com, aside from competition 

from the private sector, factors such as COVID-19, 

medical and physical disqualifications, the chaotic 

withdraw from Afghanistan, and commentary critical 

of the military, all discourage younger generations 

from joining. 

The 2021 Military Family Support Programming 

Survey, which involved 8,638 active-duty members, 

retirees, dependents, and veterans, found that while 

63% of those surveyed would recommend military 

life to someone considering, that number was down 

from 75% in 2019. 

In response to the recruiting crisis, the Coast Guard 

established a Recruiting Incident Management 

Team (IMT) that focuses on three lines of effort; 

generate more leads, improve recruiting processes, 

and increase the Coast Guard Recruiting Command 

(CGRC) performance and capacity. More than 50 

reservists are supporting the IMT’s efforts. 

“We often say that the Coast Guard is the best 

kept secret, but that is a problem for us. We need 

to let people know we are not lifeguards or the 

National Guard. We are Sentinels that protect 

the environment, save lives, and protect our 

homeland,” said Captain Tabitha Schiro, deputy 

incident commander of the Recruiting IMT. “Almost 

any career path you want, you can find it in the 

Coast Guard. The Service has so much to offer, 

not only to the public, but to oneself. We are a small 

Service and support each other like a family. The 

satisfaction of being a part of this unique branch of 

the military should make us all feel a great sense 

of pride.” 

That’s why the Coast Guard needs you now more 

than ever, to be a part of an “all hands” approach to 

inform the public about all of the Service’s missions, 

as well as the top-notch professional training, 

excellent healthcare, educational benefits, job 

security . . . and, don’t forget, the best adventure 

they’ll ever have! 

Your participation in recruiting initiatives, such as 

the Scout Talent and Refer (STAR) program, can 

earn you $1,000 for every referral that enlists. You 

can keep the award or donate it to your favorite 

charity! We ask you to continue to tap into your 

extensive personal network of family, friends, 

coworkers, and contacts in your local community. 

You can also share or repost content from the @ 

GoCoastGuard social media recruiting accounts 

or the Coast Guard’s official social media sites in 

order to expand the Service’s reach and help attract 

new talent. 

Sharing your best day in the Coast Guard story 

can also have a significant impact on influencing 

potential recruits. Use your social media accounts 

to create original content and share your story or 

reach out to your local recruiting office for more 

information about how you can assist. 

“We need talent scouts! Rehearse and share your 

best CG story, the one that starts with ‘It was a dark 

and stormy night . . .,’” said Schiro. “Retirees play 

a critical role in assisting the Service to attract topquality 

candidates in the Coast Guard’s ‘all-handson-deck’ 

approach.” 

The Recruiting Command and the IMT have 

developed several initiatives that you can 

participate in, or you can simply wear your Coast 

Guard branded clothing when you are out in the 

community and talk with members in your social 

circles. Schiro advises retirees to walk into a nearby 

Coast Guard Recruiting Office, find a recruiter you 

like, and save their number in your phone. 

“We need you to help the Coast Guard now to meet 

its recruiting goals,” said Schiro. 

Retirees, active duty, reservists and auxiliarists can 

all help the Coast Guard meet its recruiting goals! 

Since May of 2022, the Recruiting IMT has 

developed and continues to develop, several 

initiatives that target recruitment and retention of 

a total workforce, the top priority for the Service, 

and they need your help. Generating new talent 

leads is one way you can help the Coast Guard 

Recruiting Command meet the Service’s recruiting 

and accession goals. 

Don’t know where to start? Visit GoCoastGuard. 

com/max for recruiting program initiatives, tips, 

tools, and handouts to help you get started; and 

remember to refer all potential applicants to local 

Coast Guard recruiters. Your local recruiting office 

can be found at: https://www.gocoastguard.com/ 

about-us/find-recruiter 


THE LONG BLUE LINE


59

RESERVE 

2 

OF SERVICE 

SMTC CELEBRATES 

TWO DECADES 

By Petty Officer 2nd Class Todd Hurley District 5 Public Affairs 

On September 19, the Coast Guard’s Special 

Missions Training Center (SMTC) celebrated its 

20th anniversary with a ceremony at Courthouse 

Bay on U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune 

in Jacksonville, North Carolina. 

The event included a groundbreaking ceremony 

marking the beginning of construction of four new 

facilities to be built at SMTC. 

“For me, this event calls for both reflection of 

our past and reaffirmation of our future,” said 

Capt. Randall Chong, the commanding officer 

of SMTC. “It stands for the innovative synergy 

between technology and architectural design 

that will make SMTC rise above the rest in 

modernized ready learning.” 

Following the devastation caused by Hurricane 

Florence in 2018, the Coast Guard received $67 

million in funding to repair significant damage 

to shoreside infrastructure. The groundbreaking 

ceremony marked the beginning of that effort. 

While the Coast Guard is celebrating 20 years 

of SMTC, the service began its legacy on Camp 

Lejeune more than 80 years ago. 

In 1941, the Coast Guard arrived at Camp 

Lejeune as one of the first elements to reinforce 

the 1st Marine Division during World War II. 


Reserve instructors demonstrate live-firing procedures 

with the M2A1 Browning .50 caliber machine gun. 

Photo by Chief Petty Officer Heather Scheer. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

0 

The “Coast Guard Detachment,” provided the 

Service’s only school for landing craft. It was 

staffed with more than 300 people tasked with 

training more than 1,500 personnel in landing 

craft operations. 

At the conclusion of the war, the detachment was 

disbanded, and it wasn’t until 50 years later that 

the Coast Guard returned to the base. 

In 1996, the Coast Guard’s Port Security Unit 

Training Detachment (PSU TRADET), was 

displaced from Camp Perry, Ohio, and arrived 

at Camp Lejeune to train two PSUs for rapid 

deployment conducting port security in Kuwait. 

For me, this event 

calls for both reflection 

of our past and 

reaffirmation of our 

future. 

By late 1998, the PSU TRADET officially relocated 

and set up a joint Coast Guard and Marine Corps 

Special Operations Training Group initiative as 

a tenant command, anchoring the Coast Guard 

Reserve to the unit from its inception. 

The bombings of USS Cole and the attacks of 

September 11 resulted in a tenfold increase of 

Coast Guard personnel at the training center 

on Camp Lejeune. In 2003, the rapidly growing 

unit was redesignated as the SMTC and 

commissioned by Coast Guard Headquarters. 

That same year, the Navy established a TRADET 

within SMTC to train personnel as tactical 

coxswains and boat crew. 

Due to the rise in assigned personnel, a larger 

complex was needed, so construction began in 

2005 on a $38 million project that would add four 

new buildings to the growing joint facility. It was 

completed in 2008. 

Currently, SMTC––which prides itself on being the 

Coast Guard’s center of excellence for tactical 

operations––analyzes, designs, and delivers 

high-risk training to improve performance, 

RESERVE 



61


RESERVE 

24-01 PDT students triage combat wounds during the 

practical portion of TCCC. Photo by Chief Petty Officer 

Heather Scheer. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

ensure safety, promote proficiency, and enforce 

standardization for the Coast Guard’s deployable 

specialized forces, boat forces, and the 

expeditionary and chemical, biological, radiation 

and nuclear (CBRN) communities. SMTC is part 

of the Coast Guard’s formal training system 

and reports directly to the Coast Guard Force 

Readiness Command. 

SMTC will be adding a building with a new 

classroom and staff offices, lockers, and climatecontrolled 

spaces for gear, an armory that will 

house ammunition, and two separate academic 

buildings. One will be an applied academic 

building with state-of-the-art environments 

including a gym, mat room, and a modernized 

shooting simulator. The other will have improved 

classrooms and offices to preserve physical 

collections of training, enable innovative 

technology, and the ability to digitize materials 

so that field operators can access them from 

anywhere online. 

“These new facilities will provide staff and 

students with contemporary and consolidated 

accommodations that will improve efficiency, 

increase training output, and enhance the 

professionalism of SMTC,” said Chong. 

Chong also added that the innovative technology 

and added capacity would maximize training 

delivery to assist in developing the curriculum 

that will meet the evolving needs of the Coast 

Guard. 

Capt. Randall Chong, commanding officer of Special Missions Training Center, presides 

over the groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of four new 

state-of-the-art buildings. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Heather Scheer. 

These new facilities 

will provide staff 

and students with 

contemporary 

and consolidated 

accommodations that 

will improve efficiency, 

increase training 

output, and enhance 

the professionalism of 

SMTC. 

Modernization also has a significant by-product: 

long term cost savings associated with updating 

technologies. 

The firearms training simulator is part of that 

modernization. The facility allows students to 

receive weapons familiarization with pistols, rifles, 

and several of the larger weapons, such as the 

M240B machine gun and the Browning M2A1 

RESERVE 



63

RESERVE 

With a unique mission set 

within the FORCECOM 

training framework, we 

have the opportunity every 

day to impact the Coast 

Guard’s expeditionary 

workforce . . . 

.50 caliber machine gun, without expending 

ammunition. 

Equipped with lasers and connected to a 

compressed air system, dry-firing the weapon 

simulates accurate recoil and allows students 

the opportunity to engage in interactive scenarios 

before entering the live-fire range. Last year, 

facility manager Johnny Rodgers said the facility 

saved the Coast Guard approximately $600,000 

in ammunition. 


SMTC currently offers 17 different trainings and 

courses, which sees more than 1,500 students 

graduate annually, while also providing direct 

support to more than 1,400 field members during 

ready-for-operations assessments. 

“With a unique mission set within the FORCECOM 

training framework, we have the opportunity every 

day to impact the Coast Guard’s expeditionary 

workforce and enable Combatant Commanders’ 

intent around the globe,” said Senior Chief Petty 

Officer Eric Giles, senior enlisted reserve advisor 

for the expeditionary branch at SMTC. 

Some of the trainings and courses offered 

include Advanced Marksmanship Instructor 

course, Precision Marksman Instructor course, 

Close Quarters Combat Instructor course, 

Pre-Deployment Training for personnel being 

deployed to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia, 

Tactical Coxswain Course A, Opposing Force 

Tactical Coxswain, and Diver A-school, among 

others. 

Current construction at SMTC is expected to be 

completed in 2025. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

Members deploying to PATFORSWA are trained to 

prepare for over-the-water operations and mitigate 

risks associated with falling overboard. Photo by 

Petty Officer 1st Class Scott Turner. 

By Chief Petty Officer Heather Scheer 

RESERVE 

The unit is truly 

interconnected between 

components. There 

are approximately 75 

reservists on active duty 

for operational support 

currently assigned to 

SMTC with several 

courses and trainings 

led entirely by reservists. 

Allowing for short and long term ADOS 

orders provides reservists the opportunity to 

expand their experience within the Service 

and to develop and maintain competencies 

invaluable to the Coast Guard. 

All instructors in the Pre-Deployment Training 

(PDT) program are reservists. PDT is a fiveweek 

program that prepares active-duty 

members for deployments to Patrol Forces 

Southwest Asia. 

Many of the reservists on ADOS have civilian 

experience in the fields they are instructing 

or the positions they are staffing, providing 

students with insight on practical applications 

of the topics they’re learning. 

Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) 

trains students in responding to a casualty, 

preventing additional casualties, and 

completing the mission in combat situations. 

Knowing how to respond and triage medical 

emergencies in the field is critical to all 

members deploying, regardless of rank 

or rating. Taking classroom knowledge 

to practical application at the end of the 

course can be a daunting experience for 



65


RESERVE 

Chief Petty Officer Ryan Raifsnider is the lead Tactical 

Combat Casualty Care instructor for the PDT training. 

Photo courtesy of Raifsnider. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

students—even though they’re practicing 

on mannequins. 

Chief Petty Officer Ryan Raifsnider spent 

several years on active duty before lateraling 

into the Reserve to pursue nursing as his 

civilian career. Raifsnider is currently the lead 

instructor for PDT’s TCCC. As a nurse, he has 

had years of professional industry knowledge 

to impart to his students. His medical training 

not only benefits fellow instructors on how to 

accurately teach students, but also how to 

best prepare deploying personnel on what 

they could encounter in theater. 

A significant portion of PDT, along with 

several other courses offered at SMTC, is 

focused on small arms training and weapons 

familiarization. Safety is paramount when 

handling firearms and ammunition. Students 

are trained on proper protective equipment 

and operational procedures. The firearms 

simulators can only go so far in mitigating 

risk—the rest comes from the lessons 

imparted by an experienced instructor. 

There are several law enforcement officers 

within the ranks of the reservist instructors. 

Petty Officer 1st Class George David is a 

local North Carolina police officer. Inspired 

to join the Coast Guard after 9/11, he now 

employs his experience training instructors 

and students alike on weapons safety. 

There are many moving parts while at the 

range, and David is easily able to maintain 

a controlled environment. 

Another police officer, Petty Officer 1st 

Class Justin Anderson is an instructor with 

the expeditionary branch. As a maritime 

enforcement specialist, he already has the 

trained expertise from the Coast Guard in 

weapons and law enforcement. His civilian 

experience, however, makes him invaluable 

to the program. 

You cannot put a price on experience. 

Anderson recently retired as a patrol sergeant 

and commander of a Hazardous Devices 

Response Unit out of Florida. When pulses 

are rising due to high-stress environments 

like live-firing and water survival, Anderson 

stays calm and collected while encouraging 

students to remember their classroom training 

and to maintain situational awareness and 

positive control over themselves and their 

weapons. 

“The transition into the instructor role was 

easy for me,” said Anderson. “The years of 

experience I had as a law enforcement officer 

and supervisor gave me the ability to look at 

problems from various points of view and 

weigh all solutions for the best outcome.” 

Anderson noted this is an important skill for 

an instructor to possess when training military 

members to deploy to inherently high-risk 

locations. 

Reservists offer practical perspectives into a 

training environment for many students who 

haven’t had the exposure. The “green” side 

of the Coast Guard is highly specialized and 

the reservists supporting the unit are critical to 

continuing operations and mission success. 

The two components seamlessly integrate to 

ensure the deployable and tactical community 

remains the premier expeditionary force for 

the Coast Guard. 

Capt. Randall Chong, commanding officer of 

SMTC, said that the reservists are incredibly 

important to the unit in being able to augment 

the training mission. 

Senior Chief Petty Officer Eric Giles, senior 

enlisted reserve advisor for the expeditionary 

branch at SMTC, agreed with the commanding 

officer. 

“We enjoy the most interconnected command 

I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of,” 

said Giles. “We have 357 active-duty, reserve, 

civilian and contract personnel, wholly 

dedicated to one singular goal: enabling and 

equipping students for success.” 

RESERVE 



67

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION RETIREMENTS 

RETIREMENTS 

ACUNA, STEVEN 

ADLER, ERIN 

AGEE, JASON 

AGRE, RYAN 

AGUIRRE, LISA 

ALANIZ, CHRISTOPHER 

ALEXANDER, RYAN 

ALLEN, RHENEE 

ALLENDORPH, JAMES 

ALLEY, JUSTIN 

ALTMAN, SCOTT 

AMMONS, NOLAN 

ANDERSON, AARON 

ANDERSON, LARS 

ANDRES, RYAN 

ANFORTH, KARL 

APONTE, JUAN 

AQUINO, KAREN 

ARAKI, TRAVIS 

ARNOLD, MICHAEL 

ARRITT, WILLIAM 

ARTS-SMITH, PAMELA 

ATALLAH, JOSEPH 

ATILANO, EMMANUEL 

ATWELL, ANTHONY 

AYD, JOSEPH 

AYRES, ZACHARY 

BABIONE, ANDREW 

BADGER, CLINTON 

BAILEY, ADAM 

BALL, DAVID 

BARBACHANO, BRYAN 

BARNETTE, ROBERT 

BARRIL, YAMARIS 

BASH, JORDAN 

USCG 

AMTC 

CAPT 

LT 

BMCS 

CDR 

MKC 

OSCS 

LCDR 

MSTC 

BMCM 

ISC 

MST1 

CS1 

LCDR 

GM1 

CDR 

LCDR 

MSTC 

BMC 

MAT4 

CAPT 

ENG4 

AST2 

ET1 

EMC 

OSS3 

YNCM 

BMCM 

MST1 

MKCS 

AETC 

MKCS 

AET1 

CDR 

AMTC 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-09-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-07-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-23-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

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09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

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10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

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09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

BASQUILL, DAVID 

BATCHELDER, MICHAEL 

BATES, FRED 

BEACH, NATHAN 

BECKER, MATTHEW 

BELL, WILLIAM 

BELLI, ANDREW 

BENNETT, JOHN 

BENNETT, CHRISTOPHER 

BENSON, SCOTT 

BENTON, BRANDON 

BETTEGA, CASEY 

BIGGS, KEVIN 

BLACK, MATTHEW 

BLAIR, WILLIAM 

BLAKE, SUSAN 

BLANCO, PETRICE 

BLANTON, ANNA 

BLAYLOCK, ROSS 

BLITZ, JARED 

BLONDER, ROBERT 

BOFOTOLA-AKEMBA, ETAFE 

BOJARZIN, HOLGER 

BOLEN, DANIEL 

BOLEN, KERRY 

BONNER, MICAH 

BONVILLIAN, HOLLY 

BORSUCK, MICHAEL 

BOU, GEORGE 

BOWEN, MASON 

BRADBURY, DAVID 

BRADLEY, DANIEL 

BRADY, JAMES 

BRAL, ALAN 

BRAMPTON, ASHLEY-MICHAEL 

BM2 

CAPT 

ENG3 

BMCM 

YN2 

ELC4 

CSC 

MKCM 

EMC 

CAPT 

MK1 

CS1 

ENG2 

MKC 

CDR 

PACM 

PERS2 

OS2 

BMC 

AMT1 

AMT2 

CS2 

MKCS 

MKCM 

MSTC 

CDR 

HSC 

AMT1 

SKCM 

MKC 

DVC 

ME2 

MKC 

MSSD3 

ME1 

10-11-2023 

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10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-16-2023 

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10-01-2023 

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11-04-2023 

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09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-16-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-28-2023 

10-01-2023 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

! 

BRECHT, VERONICA 

BRECKEL, MATTHEW 

BROOME, ROOSEVELT 

BROPHY, NICOLE 

BROSNIHAN, ERIC 

BROWN, TIMOTHY 

BROWN, JOSEPH 

BROWN, BENJAMAN 

BROWN, HEATH 

BROWN, JOSHUA 

BRZUSKA, DONALD 

BUFFORD, JAMES 

BULONE, DOMINICK 

BURGE, CASEY 

BURKHALTER, BRYAN 

BURNS, NATHAN 

BURNS, DANTE 

BUTCHER, TRAVIS 

BUTLER, RYAN 

CABRERA, LUIS 

CAICEDO, JOHN 

CALICOTT, LLOYD 

CAMPBELL, EUGENE 

CANEDO, JORGE 

CANHAM, MICHAEL 

CARLISLE, JORDAN 

CARNEY, RICHARD 

CARR, DAVID 

CARRERO, ERIC 

CARROLL, BRIAN 

CARTER, FLOYD 

CASS, CHRISTOPHER 

CASSADY, TY 

CASTANEDA, XOCHITL 

CATELLI, MICHAEL 

CATLIN, JEVON 

CATUNA, THOMAS 

CAVINS, ANDREW 

CHAMBERLAIN, WAYNE 

CLARK, DAYNA 

CLARK, RYAN 

CLARKE, DEREK 

CLAYTON, GREGORY 

CLIFTON, MICHELLE 

CLORE, EMILY 

CLOUSE, DANIEL 

COLCLOUGH, WILLIAM 

COLE, RILEY 

It's been noted that some CG Reserve retirees in RET-2 status (awaiting pay) are missing from this list. Efforts are underway 

to include all RET-2 retirees in future issues. 

CAPT 

CDR 

MK1 

MSTC 

BM1 

CAPT 

CAPT 

AMT1 

CSCS 

SKC 

LCDR 

BOSN2 

ISM4 

BM1 

CDR 

BMC 

CS2 

ETC 

LCDR 

BMC 

F&S4 

DC3 

OSC 

BM1 

AMTC 

HSC 

MKCM 

MECM 

CAPT 

CDR 

ITC 

MSSE4 

OSCM 

CDR 

ENG2 

EMC 

HSC 

ETC 

IVC 

YNC 

OSC 

ENG4 

CDR 

BM1 

MSSD2 

BMC 

PAC 

ME3 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

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10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-24-2023 

COLEMAN, JOSEPH 

COLEMAN, JUDSON 

COLLINS, TAFAOGA 

COLLINS, ROBERT 

COLONNIEVES, JORGE 

COMEAU, DANIEL 

CONATSER, ERIK 

CONLIN, TAYLOR 

CONROY, ALLYSON 

COOL, ANDREW 

COOMBE, JEFFREY 

CORBIN, ANGELA 

CORREIA, JACOB 

CORTEZ, BIANCA 

COUCH, DANIEL 

COULTER, NATHAN 

COURTNEY, MICHAEL 

COUSIN, EDGAR 

CRAIG, RALPH 

CRANMORE, JEFFERY 

CRANS, DARIAN 

CRESPO, GABRIEL 


MEC 

CDR 

YNCS 

ENG4 

AETC 

ENG4 

LT 

DCC 

INF4 

MKC 

MKC 

OS1 

MKC 

YN2 

AMTC 

CAPT 

CDR 

BMC 

DC2 

MKC 

AET2 

BM2 

09-08-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-10-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-22-2023 

09-22-2023 


RETIREMENTS 

69


CREWS, NICHOLAS 

CREWS, DEREK 

CROOVER, MITCHELL 

CROSS, DERRICK 

CROWELL, BEN 

CRUZ, DEBRA 

CULVER, PATRICK 

CURRAN, DAVID 

CURRY, ALONZO 

CURTIS, BRADLEY 

DALE, JONATHAN 

DAMELIO, JOSEPH 

DAVIES, THOMAS 

DAVIS, GRETCHEN 

DAVIS, JEREMY 

DAVIS, FREDERICK 

DAWSON, GREGORY 

DAWSON, KRISTI 

DEAN, LAWRENCE 

DEC, JAMES 

DEEM, NICOLE 

DEGEORGE, CARMEN 

DEHAAN, JOSHUA 

DEITSCH, JONATHAN 

DELANEY, MICHAEL 

DELAVERGNE, ROBERT 

DELCID, FERNANDO 

DELVALLE, JAZZMEN 

BMCS 

BMC 

MKC 

F&S4 

CDR 

YNC 

CAPT 

F&S4 

BMC 

AMTC 

LCDR 

BMCM 

EM1 

YNC 

AET1 

CSC 

ELC2 

SK1 

BMCM 

ENG2 

LCDR 

CAPT 

BMC 

AMTC 

SKC 

AETCM 

AET1 

YN1 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-30-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

DENNING, JEREMY 

DENT, ERIC 

DENTON, BONNIE 

DEOBALDIA, JEROME 

DEVEGTER, STANLEY 

DEVLIN, RYAN 

DILENGE, MARK 

DILLA, WILLIAM 

DILLON, LEXXE 

DIMERCURIO, SALVATORE 

DIPALMA, JONATHAN 

DIXON, AMANDA 

DODSON, ADAM 

DOLBECK, JASON 

DOLL, JAMES 

DONALDSON, MILES 

DONKEL, DANIEL 

DONKER, BRIAN 

DONOHUE, DAVID 

DONOVAN, ERIC 

DORN, LINNEA 

DOUGHERTY, JEFFREY 

DOUGHERTY, CHRISTOPHER 

DOUGLAS, EDGAR 

DRAIME, LUCAS 

DRAKE, BRIAN 

DRUMMONDS, CHRISTOPHER 

DUNSON, NICHOLAS 

CDR 

EMC 

MUC 

EMC 

AMTCM 

CDR 

BMCM 

EMCS 

SN 

ENG2 

YN1 

MST1 

ISM2 

CDR 

BOSN2 

DC3 

AETC 

GMC 

MEC 

BMCS 

CDR 

ETCM 

BM1 

MST1 

BMC 

LCDR 

EMC 

AMT2 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-23-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-26-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-23-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-29-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-23-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-12-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

DUPONT, KENNETH 

DUSENBURY, CHRISTOPHER 

EBERHART, MCKENNA 

EDDY, VIVIAN 

EDSALL, CRAIG 

EDWARDS, JASON 

EGGERS, JASON 

EICHELBERGER, ANTHONY 

ELDRIDGE, JEFFREY 

ELIAS, AMARILYS 

EMMANUEL, DALE 

ENGLE, ALICIA 

ESCARRA, JOVANNY 

EUBANKS, KEVIN 

EVANS, MITCHELL 

EVERSON, ERIN 

FACENDA, ALLEN 

FADELY, SEAN 

FAIRFAX, ROSS 

FAMBRO, MICHAEL 

FANCHER, BARRON 

FANCZI, STEVEN 

FARMER, KEVIN 

FEIRMAN, DANIEL 

FELCHNER, DAVID 

FELLOWS, DANIEL 

FERNANDEZ, LOGAN 

FERREIRA, MARIO 

FERRIL, MASON 

FERRONI, KEVIN 

FIELDING, BRIAN 

FIELDS, JASON 

FIGUEROA, AXEL 

FINCH, JASON 

FISCHER, SUSAN 

FISH, DAVID 

FISHER, TRAVIS 

FISHER, CHRISTOPHER 

FITZGERALD, KATHLEEN 

FLORES, JOHN 

FLOYD, TODD 

FLY, CHRISTOPHER 

FORTIN, STEPHEN 

FOSKEY, CHAD 

FOX, KEITH 

FRALEY, JOHN 

FRANK, JAMES 

FRAZIER, THOMAS 

FREDERICK, BRANDEN 

FREDRICKSON, KURT 

FREELAND, RICHARD 

SKCS 

MKC 

MK2 

MSSD4 

F&S2 

MKC 

BMC 

IT1 

CAPT 

YNCM 

CSC 

PERS4 

SKC 

MKC 

ENG4 

MSTC 

OSC 

BM1 

YN1 

ENG2 

YNC 

SK3 

ET1 

LCDR 

ETCS 

BM3 

MKC 

SKC 

SKC 

LT 

BM1 

DV1 

ETC 

BMC 

CDR 

MKC 

MKC 

AST1 

LTJG 

ETC 

INV4 

HSCM 

MSSE2 

AMTC 

MK1 

GM1 

MSTCS 

MKCM 

AET2 

INF3 

DCCM 

10-05-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-26-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-12-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-16-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-10-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-18-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-26-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

FREEMAN, CODY 

FROMMHERZ, TREVOR 

FUSCO, TONI 

GACAYAN, BELDON 

GAGE, KENNETH 

GALE, SARAH 

GALLEGOS, NAYO 

GALVAN, JOSE 

GANT, CHRISTOPHER 

GANTE, JAYEFREN 

GARCIA, SCOTT 

GARCIA, KEVIN 

GARCIA, JOHN 

GARREN, STEPHANIE 

GARRISON, CHRISTOPHER 

GARVEY, JOHN 

GARWOOD, CHARLES 

GAUGER, RYAN 

GAUTIER, CLARICIA 

GERARDOT, LUKE 

GETCHELL, DAVID 

GIBBS, ADAM 

GILL, CHRISTOPHER 

GILL, PATRICK 

GILLILAND, JAMES 

GILMOUR, STEVEN 

GLICK, TIMOTHY 

GOGUEN, KATRINA 

GOMEZ, ELIAS 

GONZALES, REUBEN 

GONZALEZ, JORGE 

GONZALEZ, JUAN 

GONZALEZ, CHRISTOPHER 

GONZALEZ, DANIEL 

GONZALEZ RODRIGUEZ, VICTOR 

GRABLE, JOSHUA 

GRAHAM, JAMIE 

GRAYBILL, JEREMY 

GREEN, JESSE 

GREEN, RYAN 

GREENWAY, MYLES 

GREENWOOD, ANDREW 

GRIMES, MICHAEL 

GRIMMETT, HALL 

GROUF, PHILIP 

GROVE, DOUGLAS 

GUERRERO, CHARLES 

GUNKEL, CORY 

GWYNN, DONALD 

HABERLACK, SKIPPER 

HALE, RANDY 

HSCS 

OSC 

BM3 

EMC 

MK1 

MKCS 

OSC 

BMC 

BM1 

EMC 

MSTCS 

CDR 

ENG2 

BMCM 

GMC 

BMC 

HSCM 

HSC 

LT 

MEC 

MSSD4 

LCDR 

ET1 

AET2 

BMC 

BMCM 

MK1 

CSCM 

HSCS 

LCDR 

F&S3 

MEC 

MKC 

ME1 

F&S3 

BMC 

AMTC 

BMCS 

MKCS 

ET1 

CDR 

CDR 

YN2 

BMCS 

MKC 

AVI4 

CAPT 

OSCS 

AMTC 

GMC 

OSCS 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-02-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-02-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-22-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-06-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-31-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 


RETIREMENTS 


71


HALL, BRIAN 

HALL, ALEXA 

HAMAIDE, MICHAEL 

HAMALA, STEVEN 

HAMILTON, JAMES 

HANNOR, ARNETIA 

HANSEN, NILS 

HARPER, JAMES 

HARRISON, ADAM 

HARVELL-SANTOS, LARRY 

HARVEY, STEPHEN 

HAVLIK, CHARLES 

HAYASHIDA, MARCUS 

HAYES, JOSEPH 

HAYES, WARNER 

HAYMON, LEE 

HAYNES, WILLIAM 

HAYWORTH, ROBERT 

HEARY, BRETT 

HEINZ, JASON 

HELMKE, JAMES 

HENDERSON, JUSTIN 

HENGEN, MICHAEL 

HENNING, PAUL 

HERNANDEZ, JUAN 

HERRING, JANNESSA 

HESTER, WESLEY 

HIGINBOTHAM, WILLIAM 

HIIGEL, MARK 

HILBERT, PATRICK 

HILL, DONALD 

HILLER, AARON 

HITCHNER, CLARENCE 

HOCKENBERRY, JAMES 

HOGAN, BRETT 

HOGGARD, ROBERT 

HOLLYFIELD, JOSHUA 

HOLT, BRANDON 

HORN, GABRIEL 

HUFFMAN, CLAY 

HUMINSKI, EDMUND 

HUNTLEY, THOMAS 

HURST, KEVIN 

HURST, IAN 

HUTCHINS, MATTHEW 

HUTLEY, TEDD 

IZETT, JUSTIN 

JACOBS, JOSHUA 

JACOBS, BRIAN 

JAMES, BEAU 

JAMES, WESTON 

ENG4 

EM3 

ITC 

MEC 

YNCS 

SKC 

MSTC 

EMC 

YN1 

YNC 

AVI4 

BMC 

EMC 

IT1 

HSC 

BMCS 

MKCS 

YNC 

BMCS 

MKC 

BMC 

YN1 

AETC 

AMTCS 

GMC 

F&S4 

CAPT 

AMTC 

CAPT 

CAPT 

MED2 

YNC 

BMC 

AMT1 

ETCS 

MKC 

BMC 

BMCS 

IT3 

EM2 

CADET 

CDR 

F&S4 

CDR 

MSTC 

CAPT 

AMTC 

AMTCS 

BM1 

CDR 

CDR 

09-01-2023 

09-26-2023 

09-01-2023 

08-31-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-08-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-25-2023 

09-26-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-16-2023 

10-08-2023 

09-19-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

JEFFERSON, JEANITA 

JIMCOSKY, PHILIP 

JOHNSON, ERIC 

JOHNSON, NICOLAS 

JOHNSON, WILLIAM 

JOHNSON, NOWELL 

JOHNSON, PATRICK 

JOJOLA, JENNIFER 

JONES, CHRISTOPHER 

JONES, ERIC 

JONES, DUSTIN 

JONES, ANDREW 

JONES, MATTHEW 

JONES, BLAIR 

JORDAN, MICHAEL 

JORDAN, VICTOR 

JUNG, CAREY 

KANESHIRO, CHRIS 

KAROW, KEVIN 

KAWAMOTO, HANNAH 

KEANE, DANIEL 

KEARNEY, DANIEL 

KEEL, JASON 

KEHREIN, DANIEL 

KELLEMS, JOEY 

CDR 

ITCM 

CAPT 

BMC 

MSTC 

BMC 

AET2 

LCDR 

OSS4 

RADM 

MK1 

GMC 

BMC 

OS3 

MKC 

SK1 

BOSN3 

ET1 

CDR 

CDR 

CAPT 

LCDR 

EM1 

BM1 

OSCS 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-26-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

08-29-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

KELLY, STEPHEN 

KELLY, BRYAN 

KENDALL, ARNOLD 

KENNEDY, IAN 

KENNEDY, TARA 

KEOUGH, JONATHAN 

KIRBERT, ROBERT 

KIRBY, PATRICK 

KISH, MATTHEW 

KOLSTEDT, DAVID 

KOPSHEVER, ANTHONY 

KRAFT, WYATT 

KREIDER, MICHAEL 

KREIGH, BRETT 

KUKLEWSKI, TIMOTHY 

KURR, JENNIFER 

LA, RASEPT 

LADEHOFF, JAY 

LAIRD, JAMES 

LAND, CAMERON 

LANDIS, BRADLEY 

LANE, CHRISTOPHER 

LANGENFELD, MARK 

LANGTON, NATHAN 

LATHAM, MARK 

LAW, STEVEN 

LAWLER, CHAD 

LAWRENCE, JOSEPH 

LAWRENCE, CHARLES 

LAWTON, BRIAN 

LEFEVRE, ALEXANDER 

LEGIONS, TERRANCE 

LEIBOWITZ, SONYA 

LESOVSKY, ANTON 

LEWIN, WILLIAM 

LEWIS, EDWARD 

LINAYAO, SARAH 

LIND, KYLE 

LINDER, BRETT 

LINDERS, DARRELL 

LLOYD, ANDREW 

LOGAN, THOMAS 

LONG, JAMES 

LOONEY, SAMUD 

LOWE, JEFF 

LUNNING, WESLEY 

LUSK, LEANNE 

LYELL, JEREMY 

LYLE, ERIC 

LYONS, STEPHEN 

MACK, TIMOTHY 

BMC 

MEC 

BMC 

BM1 

AMT2 

MKC 

BMC 

ISC 

ISM4 

OSCM 

BMC 

AMTC 

F&S4 

MST1 

AMT1 

SK1 

ENG2 

ELC4 

BOSN2 

LCDR 

OSC 

INV2 

LT 

ISM4 

DCCS 

BMC 

BOSN4 

MKC 

MKC 

ISM2 

OS1 

SK1 

LCDR 

BMC 

CAPT 

MKCM 

PERS4 

MED3 

MKC 

AMTC 

MEC 

MAT4 

LT 

LCDR 

ASTC 

MKC 

CAPT 

ETC 

BOSN2 

CSCS 

ET2 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-26-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-18-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-16-2023 

MACKENZIE, JAMES 

MADDEX, WILLIAM 

MADER, AARON 

MAHAR, ARTHUR 

MALASKA, KARLIE 

MALLARD, ADAM 

MALTEZ, OSCAR 

MARFIO, TYLER 

MARKS, IAN 

MARQUEZ, JEAN 

MARSHALL, JOHN 

MASER, MARK 

MASRI, SAMUEL 

MATTEI, LYLE 

MATYAS, GREGORY 

MATYAS, STEPHEN 

MAY, JEREMY 

MCALLISTER, DOUGLAS 

MCCARTHY, JOSHUA 

MCCLAIN, BRANDI 

MCCRYSTAL-HARRIS, SARAH 

MCDONALD, JOEY 

MCGEHEE, WILLIAM 

MCGHEE, KRISTOPHER 

MCGIVERN, SHAWN 

MCGRAIL, REYNA 

MCGUINNESS, EUGENE 

MCINTOSH, FRANK 

MCKINNEY, BLAKE 

MCKINNEY, LOGAN 

MCLEOD, JASON 

MCMAHON, SEAN 

MCPHERSON, TIMOTHY 

MCREE, KIRK 

MCWILLIAMS, KENNETH 

MEACHUM, BRIAN 

MEHLHOUSE, RONALD 

MENENDEZ, CHRISTIAN 

MENZE, JEFF 

MERCADO, BENJAMIN 

MERRITT, OTIS 

MERSCH, NICHOLAS 

MEYER, JAMES 

MICCIO, STEPHEN 

MIDDLETON, BRADLEY 

MILINCHUK, JAMES 

MILLER, JONATHAN 

MILLER, CHRISTOPHER 

MILLER, JOSHUA 

MILLS, JERE 

MILNE, DAVID 

EMC 

ENG4 

CDR 

CDR 

GM2 

BMC 

ME1 

SKC 

LCDR 

AET1 

OSS3 

CDR 

BM1 

BM1 

CAPT 

EM1 

AETC 

AETCS 

AMTC 

MSSD4 

MK1 

MEC 

MK1 

MED4 

OSC 

CDR 

CAPT 

LCDR 

CDR 

BM3 

LT 

ISC 

CSCS 

PS1 

MST1 

MKCS 

SKC 

BMC 

MKC 

MSSD4 

SK1 

MKC 

MK1 

AMT3 

CDR 

AMTC 

CDR 

CDR 

ET1 

YNC 

CDR 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-24-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-02-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-25-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-07-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-16-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-07-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-24-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 


RETIREMENTS 


73


MINCKS, SHAWN 

MIURA, CHRISTIAN 

MOLLER, BRIAN 

MONFRED, JOSEPH 

MONIGLE, EDWARD 

MONZON, FELIX 

MOORE, JEREMY 

MOOSMAN, DAVID 

MORALES, FRANCISCO 

MORAN, WILLIE 

MORGAN, ROBERT 

MORGAN, CAMERON 

MORGAN, MICHAEL 

MORRIS, TONYA 

MORRIS, KEITH 

MORRISON, STEPHEN 

MORRISON, JAMES 

MOSER, TREVOR 

MOSS, ADAM 

MUCINO, ANIBAL 

MUELLER, AUDRI 

MUHAMMAD, KHAZANULLAH 

MUNK, JUSTIN 

MUNNE, DAVID 

MURDOCK, RONALD 

MYERS, STEVEN 

NATTI, JASON 

NEGRON, VICTOR 

NEILAN, CRAIG 

NELSON, RICHARD 

NELSON, STEPHEN 

NETHERTON, JACLYN 

NEWELL, REBECCA 

NGUYEN, QUY 

NICHOLS, CHRISTOPHER 

NORLING, ROBERT 

NORMAN, JUSTIN 

NORMAN, CHRISTOPHER 

NOSSETT, MARTIN 

NUSS, MARK 

OBRIEN, CRAIG 

O'BRIEN, JESSE 

OCON, EDDIE 

OCONNOR, JONATHAN 

ODEGARD, KELVIN 

O'DONNELL, MEHGAN 

OLEARY, MICHAEL 

OLIVARES, STEVE 

OLIVEIRA, MATTHEW 

OLIVO, JAVIER 

OSBURN, DANIEL 

ELC4 

CDR 

ETCM 

BMC 

BMC 

SKCS 

OS1 

EMC 

MKC 

MST1 

ASTC 

BMCM 

CDR 

BMC 

OSC 

ISCS 

OS1 

MSSD3 

MSSD4 

OSC 

CS2 

SKC 

ASTC 

EM1 

EMC 

CDR 

BMC 

AET2 

IT1 

F&S4 

AMT1 

PERS3 

MKCS 

F&S2 

ISCS 

MKC 

BMC 

BMCM 

CDR 

IVC 

MKCM 

YNC 

ME2 

MEC 

OS2 

YNC 

ASTC 

MSSE4 

BMC 

BMC 

AMT2 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-26-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-04-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-24-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-26-2023 

OVERBY, JOHN 

OVERDORF, JUSTIN 

OWENS, MICHAEL 

PAAUWE, RICHARD 

PACE, ABIGAIL 

PALISANO, NICHOLAS 

PAMA, BLAINE 

PARADISO, JAMES 

PARRINGTON, KEVIN 

PATERSON, MICHEAL 

PATTERSON, SCOTT 

PAULINO, ROBERT 

PEELMAN, JOSHUA 

PEJZA, TIMOTHY 

PENNYPACKER, JOSEPH 

PEQUIGNOT, THOMAS 

PERMAN, BENJAMIN 

PERSOON, ADRIAN 

PETRAK, RYAN 

PETTY, DONNA 

PHILIPPI, CYNTHIA 

PHILLIPS, RYAN 

PIAZZI, STEFANO 

PICKARD, STEPHEN 

PIERCE, WALTER 

PINA, RICHARD 

PIPKIN, MARK 

PLAGENS, SCOTT 

POIROUX, TAYLOR 

POOLE, ISAAC 

PORTER, WILLIAM 

POTTS, JEREMY 

PRATHER, PHILIP 

PREBLE, CLAYTON 

PREBLE, KRISTEN 

PREBULA, DAWN 

PRESNELL, CHRISTOPHER 

PRESTON, JOSHUA 

PRETE, DUSTIN 

PREVATT, STEPHEN 

PRICE, ERIK 

QUICHOCHO, ROBERT 

QUIRK, BYRON 

RADEMACHER, DANIEL 

RAFOTH, ZACHARY 

RAGLAND, AUSTIN 

RAHN, JASON 

RAMOS, ROBERTO 

RAMSEY, HARRY 

RANDOLPH, BRANDI-MARIE 

RANSOM, MELISSA 

ISC 

OS1 

SKC 

ITCS 

YNC 

BMCS 

OSC 

BMC 

MSSD3 

MSSD2 

OS3 

BMC 

BMC 

ETC 

LCDR 

CDR 

CDR 

OS1 

MKC 

OSC 

YN1 

BMC 

BMC 

BOSN3 

CDR 

AETCS 

LT 

AET1 

SN 

CS2 

MECS 

AETC 

CAPT 

CDR 

CDR 

CDR 

CDR 

MK1 

AVI3 

AVI3 

LCDR 

ENG2 

AMT1 

AMT1 

DCC 

GM1 

AMT2 

CS2 

BM1 

BM1 

CDR 

11-01-2023 

09-26-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-23-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-06-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-05-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-04-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-22-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-11-2023 

09-26-2023 

09-26-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

RASMUSSEN, BRITTANY 

REAGAN, STEVEN 

REATH, ROBERT 

RECORD, LUTHER 

REED, MICHAEL 

REED, CRAIG 

REED, SCOT 

REMENTER, BURTON 

REYES, ANDREW 

RHODES, RYAN 

RICE, DAVID 

RICKETTS, ELIZABETH 

RIEDL, PHILLIP 

RILEY, SHANNON 

RIPKA, BRIAN 

RISBERG, JASON 

RITCHEY, SCOTT 

RIVERA, MANUEL 

RIVERS, JOHN 

ROBB, TONY 

ROBERTO, JEFFREY 

ROBEY, DAVID 

ROCHESTER, STEVEN 

RODGERS, SCOTT 

RODRIGUEZ, RAFAEL 

RODRIGUEZ, ALEJANDRO 

ROGERS, GRANT 

ROHL, KEVIN 

ROHLMEIER, BARTHOLOMEW 

ROJAS, DANIEL 

ROLOFF, TRAVIS 

ROSA, KALEB 

ROSE, RANDY 

ROSENBLATT, JEFFREY 

RUH, STEVEN 

RUNYON, ERIC 

RUTLEDGE, WILLIAM 

SAFLIN, STEPHEN 

SALERNO, PAUL 

SALTZMAN, ADAM 

SANCHEZ, CHELSEA 

SANDERS, JOSHUA 

SANSOUCIE, ADAM 

SAPP, LANCE 

SAUNDERS, WALTER 

SAWICKI, MICHAEL 

SAXON, VICTORIA 

SAYEGH, JUSTIN 

SAYLES, BRICE 

SCHAFER, SARAH 

SCHEBELL, MICHAEL 

BM1 

LTJG 

ET1 

ITC 

CAPT 

MK1 

BMCM 

GM1 

OSS3 

CAPT 

MST2 

OS1 

SK2 

LT 

MECS 

BM1 

BMC 

MKC 

CAPT 

EMC 

OSC 

MST1 

MEC 

MK1 

ETCS 

MK2 

DC1 

ENG3 

BMC 

YN1 

BOSN2 

MK3 

ENG4 

OS1 

BMCS 

CDR 

ITC 

BMCS 

CDR 

BM1 

BMCS 

MK1 

OSC 

ENG2 

AMTC 

GMC 

LCDR 

MST1 

AET2 

PERS4 

MEC 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-24-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-30-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-13-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-16-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-23-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-14-2023 

SCHIBLER, MATTHEW 

SCHOB, GREGORY 

SCHREIBER, CHARLES 

SCHULTZ, CHRISTOPHER 

SCHURKE, PAUL 

SCLAFANI, MATTHEW 

SCOTT, MICHAEL 

SEARS, ERIK 

SEEVERS, CHRISTOPHER 

SERBU, BROOK 

SHANK, MICHAEL 

SHARP, AARON 

SHAW, RYAN 

SHEAR, JARED 

SHERRILL, JEROMY 

SHERWOOD, ROBERT 

SIMINS, JUSTIN 

SINK, RUSTY 

SKANG, TRUMAN 

SMALLWOOD, ERIC 

SMITH, ANDREA 

SMITH, ERIC 

SMITH, JASON 

SMITH, KEVINN 

SMITH, PAUL 

CDR 

DCC 

BMC 

AETC 

CDR 

BMC 

YNCS 

ETC 

BOSN2 

CDR 

GMCM 

BM3 

AET1 

BMC 

MSTC 

ISM3 

ENG4 

MSSE4 

EMCS 

CDR 

CDR 

AETCS 

CAPT 

BMCM 

CDR 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-11-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-07-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 


RETIREMENTS 


75


SMITH, DANIELLE 

SMITH, CHRISTOPHER 

SNOW, BRYAN 

SNYDER, DENNIS 

SOTO, WILBERTO 

SPARKS, TIMAREE 

SPEAR, JASON 

SPEDOSKE, FRANKLIN 

SPINDEL, BRAD 

SPRATT, KEVIN 

STARK, DOUGLAS 

STATON, JANNA 

STEINBACH, DANIEL 

STEPALAVICH, JAMES 

STEVENS, JOHN 

STRANGE, DANIEL 

STRATHERN, RUSSELL 

STRAYER, AUSTIN 

SUGA, SILVESTRE 

SUGGS, SAVAUGHNIE 

SULFRIDGE, BRANDON 

SUMNER, CORY 

SWIATEK, CHRISTOPHER 

SWIFT, ROBERT 

SWIZE, TEDDIE 

SYLVESTER, CASSIE 

SZABO, AIDAN 

TAN, RYAN 

TAYLOR, BYRON 

TAYLOR, GRACE 

TAYLOR, CHARLES 

TAYLOR, BRENT 

TAYLOR, PAUL 

TEDFORD, JONATHAN 

THEEL, JONATHAN 

THOMASON, KELSEY 

THOMPSON, SEAN 

THRESHER, AARON 

TILLMAN, JOSEPH 

TIMBERLAKE, JEFFREY 

TIMME, RICHARD 

TINDOL, BRET 

TKACZUK, JOSEPH 

TOBER, BRENDAN 

TOMLIN, PETER 

TONKINSON, CHAD 

TORFASON, WILLIAM 

TOWNSEND, BRIDGET 

TRUDE, JONATHON 

TRUXAL, DAVID 

TUCKER, MATTHEW 

SK1 

CSCS 

CS3 

OSC 

EMC 

BMCM 

YN1 

MSSD3 

BMC 

BMC 

CAPT 

CDR 

IT1 

BMC 

ETC 

AST1 

MSSR3 

AET3 

BMC 

YN1 

MSSR2 

ME1 

BMCM 

YNC 

CADET 

YNCS 

AMT3 

CS1 

EM1 

SKCS 

LCDR 

ELC2 

MKC 

GMC 

CAPT 

OSC 

BMCS 

ITC 

GMC 

MAT4 

RADM 

MSTC 

MKC 

ME2 

LTJG 

ENG2 

F&S4 

SKCM 

OSS2 

ENG2 

AET1 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-26-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-11-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-09-2023 

09-19-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-24-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-03-2023 

10-18-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-07-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-11-2023 

09-23-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-03-2023 

10-01-2023 

TURBETT, AARON 

TURDO, MICHAEL 

TURNER, JANE 

TUTTLE, CHRISTOPHER 

TYLER, GARY 

UM, KENNETH 

UNTERKOEFLER, SEAN 

UYTTEWAAL, JUSTIN 

VANRIPER, JARAD 

VANSICKLEN, PETER 

VANVLECK, QUINCY 

VARGO, MARK 

VEACH, ALAN 

VEGA, ROLANDO 

VIDAL, MONICA 

VOKES, MICHAEL 

VONDERAU, CHRISTOPHER 

WADA, MICHAEL 

WADE, GIOVANNI 

WAGNER, ASHLYN 

WALKER, ROBERT 

WALTER, BRETT 

WALTERS, MICHAEL 

WALTERS, STEPHEN 

AETC 

CAPT 

CADET 

AETCM 

LTJG 

MK1 

ME2 

BOSN4 

BMC 

AVI4 

AST2 

BMCM 

BMC 

F&S4 

MSTCS 

ET1 

MKC 

MKCS 

ELC4 

MK3 

ENG3 

CDR 

AVI2 

LCDR 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-30-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-29-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-23-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-17-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-11-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

WALTERS, ERIN 

WALTERS, THOMAS 

WARING, JERAD 

WATKINS, GABRIEL 

WATTS, WANDA 

WEAVER, ETHAN 

WEBB, NATHAN 

WEISMAN, MICHAEL 

WELLS, CHADWICK 

WHALEN, TAMARA 

WHALEN, ADAM 

WHEELER, CHRISTOPHER 

WHITE, NEIL 

WHITE, DAVID 

WIKE, MOLLY 

WILBER, NATHANIEL 

WILCOX, ANTHONY 

WILKENSHOFF, DAVID 

WILKINS, JESSE 

WILLARD, JOHNATHAN 

WILLIAMS, JOSEPH 

WILLIAMS, MICHAEL 

WILLIAMSON, BROOKE 

WILSON, DAVID 

CS1 

DCC 

DCC 

YNC 

MED2 

SN 

OSCS 

BMC 

ET3 

CDR 

LCDR 

AST1 

LCDR 

AST2 

CAPT 

ENG4 

HS2 

AETC 

AET1 

PERS4 

ME1 

ET2 

HSC 

ELC4 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-26-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-23-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-16-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

WILSON, TODD 

WILSON, MICHAEL 

WILSON, ERIC 

WINN, KYLE 

WOEHRLE, CRAIG 

WOLFE, ADAM 

WONG, JASON 

WOOD, PAUL 

WORKMAN, JIMMY 

WRIGHT, ANDREW 

WRIGHT, WARREN 

WRIGHT, BRIAN 

WRIGHT, DAVID 

WYGANT, MARTIN 

YANEZ, MICHAEL 

YARBROUGH, PHILIP 

YIFTHEG, IGNACIO 

YOUDE, STEVEN 

YOUNG, ROBERT 

YOUNG-MCLEAR, KIMBERLY 

ZACHMANN, MIKEL 

ZAPPALA, ERROL 

ZIMMER, AARON 

HS1 

ETC 

DC1 

AETC 

OS1 

CDR 

HSCM 

BMCM 

MLES4 

CAPT 

CDR 

MK1 

LCDR 

YNC 

LCDR 

MKCM 

GMC 

CDR 

ETCS 

CDR 

PERS2 

IT1 

BMCM 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-06-2023 

10-01-2023 

RETIREMENTS 



77


! 

AGNELLO, MARK 

AKINBAMI, LARA 

ALRED, LORI 

BOLTE, PATRICK 

BONILLA, MARICELA 

BOSILJEVAC, STEVEN 

BOWMAN, THOMAS 

BROWN, RACHAEL 

CALCI, KEVIN 

CARLSON, ROBERT 

CHAU, SHUN-PING 

CLAY, JAMES 

CONRAD, PAMELA 

COOKSON, DEBORAH 

COOPER, MICHAEL 

CULBREATH, DIMITRUS 

CUTILLAR, DEAN 

CUTTING, SUMMER 

DATTA, SRIPARNA 

DESPINS, JOSEPH 

FOX, TERESA 

GARZA, ANTHONY 

GOMEZ-SALADIN, EDUARDO 

HARRIS, BRADLEY 

HARVEY, PAUL 

HASENFANG, DANIEL 

HEITMANN, GARRETT 

HERSHBERGER, FRANK 

HIERHOLZER, ERIK 

JARVIS-DURHAM, LISA 

JUSTICE, WILLIAM 

USCG & USPHS are addressing errors in USPHS ranks due to differences in permanent and temporary ranks. Corrected 

ranks are denoted with an asterisk. 

USPHS 

CDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CDR 

CDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

LCDR 

CDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CDR 

CDR 

CAPT 

LCDR 

CAPT 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-30-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

KENNARD, JAY 

KENNEDY, MARY 

KRISHNAN, MALINI 

LATOCHA, DEMITRIUS 

LAU, DAVID 

LEE, KOUNG 

LEWIS, BRIAN 

LEWIS, KANS 

LITTLE, ELAINE 

LYNCH, PATRICK 

MACNULTY, WILLIAM 

MAYE, KATHERINE 

MCCOWEN, JOHN 

MCQUISTON, JENNIFER 

MEYER-ALONZO, ADRIANA 

MORGANSTEIN, JOSHUA 

MOSELY, ELVIRA 

MYERS, KIMBERLY 

NOLTE, ROCHELLE 

NOWELL, JAMES 

NYABWARI, ANDREW 

PEPPER, DEANNA 

PETERMAN, JACKIE 

PETERSON, ALAN 

PIERCE, WILLIAM 

SACHSE, ELIZABETH 

SMITH, ALISON 

STATEN, ANN 

STEVENS, ALAN 

TANG, HA 

TRUNCALE, CHARLES 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CDR 

CDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CDR 

LCDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

LCDR 

CDR 

CDR 

CDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CDR 

CDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

09-01-2023 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

TUPPONCE, ALAN 

VAN PELT, LYNN 

VANDOLAH, CHERI 

WALKER, CATHERINA 

WALLIS, DANIEL 

WALSH, FAITH 

WEBB, CHARITY 

WEISER, THOMAS 

WHITEHURST, DANIEL 

WILLIAMS, SEYMOUR 

WILLIAMS, RUTH 

WITTE, CATHERINE 

WROBLEWSKI, TANYA 

YAN, HAWYEE 

YEREB, DANIEL 

CAPT 

CAPT 

LCDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CDR 

LCDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

LCDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

09-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

RETIREMENTS 

NOAA 

DIDIER, PATRICK 

EUROPE, HOLLIS 

CDR 

LT 

09-01-2023 

11-01-2023 

LEVINE, MICHAEL 

VANDENAMEELE, EDWARD 

CAPT 

CAPT 

10-01-2023 

10-01-2023 

COAST GUARD TRANSITION ASSISTANCE 

PROGRAM (TAP) 

TAP prepares Service Members separating or retiring from the Coast Guard for their transition to 

civilian life. All eligible SMs are required to complete the standardized components of the TAP. 

These components are 1) Pre-separation Counseling and 2) the Transition Seminar, encompassing 

the Transition Goals, Plans, and Success (GPS) core curriculum. 

dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Human-Resources-CG-1/Health- 

Safety-and-Work-Life-CG-11/Office-of-Work-Life-CG-111/Transition-Assistance-Program/ 

TRYING TO CONNECT WITH A FELLOW 

USCG, USPHS, OR NOAA RETIREE? 

If you need help connecting with a USCG, USPHS, or NOAA 

retiree, you may provide the individual’s name (and rank/ 

paygrade if known), along with your contact information to: 

Robert Hinds, CG Retiree Services 

e-mail: Robert.C.Hinds@uscg.mil 

phone: 202-475-5451 

(An attempt to contact the individual and provide 

your contact information will be made by email) 

DO NOT SEND PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII), SUCH 

AS SSN, EMPID, THROUGH PUBLIC E-MAIL (E.G. AOL, G-MAIL, ETC.) 



79

TAPS 

TAPS 

DEPENDENT TAPS: To place a Dependent TAPS notice in The Retiree Newsletter, provide the dependent’s 

name, relationship to retiree, date of passing, and city/state to Robert Hinds at: Robert.C.Hinds@uscg.mil or 

phone: 202-475-5451. 

USCG 

ABAIR, ROBERT 

TARPON SPRINGS, FL 

CDR 

RET. 09-01-1996 

TAPS 08-03-2023 

BUCKLES, PHILLIP 

DEVINE, TX 

BM1 

RET. 01-01-1996 

TAPS 08-01-2023 


AKIN, ALBERT 

HILLIARD, FL 

ATKINS, MICHAEL 

TEMECULA, CA 

AUGUSTUS, KENNETH 

SEASIDE, OR 

BAKER, RICHARD 

WARWICK, RI 

BANDEL, CHARLES 

NAPA, CA 

BEBBLE, RICHARD 

GAYLORD, MI 

BENABE, HUMBERTO 

CENTER GROTON, CT 

BETLEJ, MICHAEL 

EAGLE RIVER, AK 

BOLIN, ALBERT 

HARRISON, AR 

BROWN, BRADY 

WINFIELD, AL 

BRUNDAGE, STEPHEN 

WASHINGTON, DC 

BMC 

AMT2 

MKCM 

PS1 

BMC 

CWO4 

FSCM 

ENG4 

AET1 

DC1 

CDR 

RET. 09-01-1990 

TAPS 07-19-2023 

RET. 01-01-2013 

TAPS 08-02-2023 

RET. 11-01-1980 

TAPS 09-19-2023 

RET. 01-22-2005 

TAPS 07-19-2023 

RET. 03-01-1967 

TAPS 07-04-2023 

RET. 11-01-1979 

TAPS 07-26-2023 

RET. 09-01-1978 

TAPS 07-28-2023 

RET. 09-01-1998 

TAPS 07-16-2023 

RET. 09-01-1982 

TAPS 10-04-2023 

RET. 08-04-1998 

TAPS 08-26-2023 

RET. 07-01-1987 

TAPS 09-03-2023 

BULEN, CHARLES 

WICHITA, KS 

BURKE, RICHARD 

POULSBO, WA 

BURRISS, CLYDE 

MEBANE, NC 

CAIN, JOSEPH 

TROY, NY 

CARPENTER, FREDERICK 

YORK, PA 

CASTO, ROY 

LYNCHBURG, VA 

CENTA, SANDRA 

PAINESVILLE, OH 

CHAPEAU, ARMAND 

ATHENS, GA 

CHARTER, DANIEL 

SICKLERVILLE, NJ 

CHILSON, JEFFREY 

ROCKY MOUNT, NC 

CONNOLLY, DESMOND 

BUZZARDS BAY, MA 

AM1 

LT 

YN1 

CDR 

CWO4 

RADM 

YN2 

CDR 

CAPT 

MSTC 

CWO3 

RET. 06-01-1990 

TAPS 08-27-2023 

RET. 03-01-1980 

TAPS 08-21-2023 

RET. 10-01-1977 

TAPS 10-05-2023 

RET. 05-05-2008 

TAPS 09-20-2023 

RET. 06-01-1980 

TAPS 07-17-2023 

RET. 07-01-2003 

TAPS 07-31-2023 

RET. 07-20-2007 

TAPS 08-16-2023 

RET. 05-01-1987 

TAPS 07-31-2023 

RET. 07-01-1985 

TAPS 09-05-2023 

RET. 02-26-2016 

TAPS 08-29-2023 

RET. 08-01-1978 

TAPS 08-17-2023 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

COOKE, RANDALL 

PIDEMONT, MO 

YNC 

RET. 11-10-2011 

TAPS 07-31-2023 

FRANSEEN, RAY 

HILTON HEAD, SC 

CDR 

RET. 10-25-2002 

TAPS 08-08-2023 

TAPS 

CROWN, CARL 

NIPOMO, CA 

CAPT 

RET. 09-01-2000 

TAPS 09-24-2023 

GAIDA, JOHN 

PINEHURST, NC 

MK1 

RET. 07-02-1994 

TAPS 08-09-2023 

DAHMS, ALAN 

FT LAUDERDALE, FL 

CDR 

RET. 09-01-1978 

TAPS 08-28-2023 

GALINDEZ, CONRADO 

VACAVILLE, CA 

FSC 

RET. 11-01-1980 

TAPS 07-07-2023 

DAVILA, ELOY 

PEARLAND, TX 

SK1 

RET. 03-11-1999 

TAPS 09-07-2023 

GAMO, TIRSO 

CERRITOS, CA 

SKC 

RET. 01-01-1986 

TAPS 07-21-2023 

DAVIS, SCOTT 

SOUTH BARRE, VT 

BM2 

RET. 01-09-1992 

TAPS 08-20-2023 

GARLAND, RICHARD 

DEER PARK, TX 

PSC 

RET. 01-02-1991 

TAPS 09-23-2023 

DELAINE, EDWARD 

CUBA, AL 

SK1 

RET. 10-01-2000 

TAPS 09-14-2023 

GAUNT, ROBERT 

ZEELAND, MI 

LCDR 

RET. 01-13-1994 

TAPS 07-29-2023 

DELATER, JENNIFER 

STUART, FL 

ITC 

RET. 07-26-2023 

TAPS 07-26-2023 

GOULD, LORNE 

ALAMEDA, CA 

CWO3 

RET. 02-01-1987 

TAPS 08-19-2023 

DEMPSEY, ALAN 

GRANITE BAY, CA 

CAPT 

RET. 07-01-1986 

TAPS 09-14-2023 

GRIFFIN, DAVID 

ARLINGTON, VA 

ENG3 

RET. 03-19-1992 

TAPS 09-21-2023 

DORSEY, CECIL 

ATLANTA, GA 

LCDR 

RET. 07-09-1998 

TAPS 07-17-2023 

GROSSMAN, JAMES 

HAMPSTEAD, MD 

LCDR 

RET. 10-01-1995 

TAPS 10-13-2022 

DORSEY, VERNARD 

FAIRBURN, GA 

DRUMMOND, WAYNE 

WEST BABYLON, NY 

DUKE, WILLIAM 

EAST LYME, CT 

ELLIS, WILLIAM 

GLOUCESTER, MA 

FAULKENBERRY, THOMAS 

WEATHERFORD, TX 

FERRANTE, ROBERT 

S PORTLAND, ME 

FERRIS, CLINTON 

DOUGLAS, WY 

FILCHER, GERALD 

NEWBURGH, NY 

FLORIO, JOHNNY 

STEINHATCHEE, FL 

FOIL, DONALD 

SLIDELL, LA 

FORDHAM, WYNDELL 

DUBLIN, GA 

MKC 

PS1 

EMCM 

IT1 

LT 

YNC 

CDR 

HSC 

CWO2 

LCDR 

BMC 

RET. 05-01-2017 

TAPS 07-25-2023 

RET. 11-02-2005 

TAPS 08-18-2023 

RET. 10-01-1975 

TAPS 08-06-2023 

RET. 11-25-2016 

TAPS 08-07-2023 

RET. 04-24-2015 

TAPS 08-02-2023 

RET. 11-20-2000 

TAPS 10-01-2023 

RET. 08-13-1993 

TAPS 09-12-2023 

RET. 08-01-1998 

TAPS 09-23-2023 

RET. 09-01-1980 

TAPS 09-25-2023 

RET. 10-22-2006 

TAPS 08-08-2023 

RET. 07-01-1979 

TAPS 09-25-2023 

HALL, MICHAEL 

TUCSON, AZ 

HARMON, DONALD 

HEBRON, MD 

HARRIS, JAMES 

MOORE, OK 

HAUTALA, JOHN 

PASADENA, MD 

HEBERT, JOHN 

DELTAVILLE, VA 

HIGA, MITSUO 

LOS ANGELES, CA 

HOEPNER, BARBARA 

EL CERRITO, CA 

HOFFMAN, RICHARD 

HENDERSONVILLE, NC 

HORNSBY, CHARLIE 

SEGUIN, TX 

HUGHES, ROGER 

OWASSO, OK 

JENSEN, TIMOTHY 

E HANOVER, NJ 

CAPT 

DT1 

ADCM 

LCDR 

BMCM 

MKC 

BM2 

AM1 

BMC 

ELC3 

SK1 

RET. 12-01-2000 

TAPS 07-11-2023 

RET. 04-08-1971 

TAPS 07-25-2023 

RET. 08-01-1977 

TAPS 10-19-2023 

RET. 03-01-1996 

TAPS 08-26-2023 

RET. 12-27-2014 

TAPS 07-28-2023 

RET. 02-25-1992 

TAPS 07-07-2023 

RET. 06-27-1995 

TAPS 07-23-2023 

RET. 07-01-1993 

TAPS 08-02-2023 

RET. 09-01-1986 

TAPS 09-08-2023 

RET. 10-01-1998 

TAPS 07-24-2023 

RET. 05-25-2007 

TAPS 08-11-2023 



81


TAPS 

JESTER, DANIEL 

SALISBURY, MD 

JEWELL, CHRISTOPHER 

ST PETERSBURG, FL 

JOHNS, RICHARD 

SAN ANTONIO, TX 

JOHNSON, CECIL 

PALM COAST, FL 

JOHNSON, CHARLES 

SAVANNAH, GA 

JOHNSON, JOHNNIE 

FOLKSTON, GA 

JOHNSON, KENT 

HENDERSON, NV 

JOHNSON, RONALD 

WEST POINT, TX 

JONES, CLARK 

PORT ANGELES, WA 

KELLY, CHARLES 

NEWPORT, NC 

KINNER, JOHN 

BUENA PARK, CA 

BM1 

COMM4 

LCDR 

YN1 

LT 

MKC 

HS1 

MKCS 

TTC 

PSC 

YN1 

RET. 10-28-2005 

TAPS 07-23-2023 

RET. 07-01-1997 

TAPS 08-11-2023 

RET. 07-01-1980 

TAPS 07-28-2023 

RET. 11-01-1967 

TAPS 07-18-2023 

RET. 02-01-2004 

TAPS 09-12-2023 

RET. 07-01-1979 

TAPS 07-03-2023 

RET. 02-28-2002 

TAPS 07-11-2023 

RET. 01-01-1990 

TAPS 09-03-2023 

RET. 09-01-1986 

TAPS 07-29-2023 

RET. 02-26-2004 

TAPS 08-28-2023 

RET. 02-01-1975 

TAPS 08-08-2023 

KOSTER, FRANK 

PHILADELPHIA, PA 

KOWALEWSKI, VALENTINE 

JACKSONVILLE, FL 

KYLE, JOSEPH 

HOMEWOOD, AL 

LAIRD, ROBERT 

GREENSBORO, NC 

LARRAGA, DAGOBERTO 

ESCONDIDO, CA 

LEGGETT, KEVIN 

SUFFOLK, VA 

LEHR, WILLIAM 

VIRGINIA BCH, VA 

LEWIS, GLENN 

NORTH CAPE MAY, NJ 

LINDSAY, JAMES 

SALEM, OR 

LIPP, CHARLES 

MOUNT VERNON, WA 

LITTS, PAUL 

NANCY, KY 

SKC 

EMC 

CDR 

BMCS 

AMTC 

OSS3 

CAPT 

CWO4 

DCC 

FSCS 

LCDR 

RET. 10-03-2002 

TAPS 07-17-2023 

RET. 05-01-1977 

TAPS 07-18-2023 

RET. 10-01-1992 

TAPS 07-04-2023 

RET. 03-01-1977 

TAPS 07-19-2023 

RET. 09-01-2015 

TAPS 07-26-2023 

RET. 09-01-2017 

TAPS 11-09-2017 

RET. 08-01-1982 

TAPS 07-07-2023 

RET. 11-01-1986 

TAPS 07-18-2023 

RET. 07-01-1986 

TAPS 08-18-2023 

RET. 07-01-1988 

TAPS 08-25-2023 

RET. 03-01-1981 

TAPS 09-15-2023 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

MADDOX, WILLIAM 

JACKSONVILLE, FL 

CAPT 

RET. 08-12-1997 

TAPS 08-24-2023 

OLDFORD, HARRY 

CASSELBERRY, FL 

CDR 

RET. 07-01-1973 

TAPS 08-12-2023 

TAPS 

MAILHOT, ROGER 

COVENTRY, RI 

LCDR 

RET. 11-24-1988 

TAPS 08-05-2023 

PARKER, GEORGE 

ASTORIA, OR 

BMC 

RET. 05-12-1977 

TAPS 10-27-2023 

MARCHEWKA, RICHARD 

AKIAN, SC 

PS1 

RET. 11-05-2005 

TAPS 07-18-2023 

PARKER, GREGG 

MEDFORD, NJ 

BM1 

RET. 04-01-1996 

TAPS 08-10-2023 

MARTINCAVAGE, JACK 

LOS OSOS, CA 

BOSN3 

RET. 06-01-2011 

TAPS 07-20-2023 

PASSMAN, DAVID 

NORFORK, AR 

MAT4 

RET. 06-01-1998 

TAPS 08-03-2023 

MCCLANAHAN, PAUL 

STRASBURG, VA 

CWO3 

RET. 10-01-1989 

TAPS 07-24-2023 

PATTON, NATHAN 

PORT ANGELES, WA 

CWO4 

RET. 02-05-1990 

TAPS 07-13-2023 

MEEKINS, JOHN 

CHESAPEAKE, VA 

CWO3 

RET. 09-01-1974 

TAPS 08-27-2023 

PERKINS, JAMES 

CLEVELAND, OH 

PACS 

RET. 08-01-1984 

TAPS 07-22-2023 

MERRILL, WILLIAM 

KIRKLAND, WA 

LT 

RET. 09-01-1974 

TAPS 07-10-2023 

PETERSEN, STEPHEN 

PETTUS, TX 

MKCM 

RET. 08-01-1982 

TAPS 07-25-2023 

MEUNIER, EUGENE 

ALAMEDA, CA 

ET2 

RET. 07-06-2023 

TAPS 07-06-2023 

PEWITT, BRIAN 

COOS BAY, OR 

SN 

RET. 08-03-1977 

TAPS 07-10-2023 

MILOBAR, STEPHEN 

GLENDALE, AZ 

PERS4 

RET. 04-01-1995 

TAPS 08-29-2023 

PICKETT, JOHN 

CENTRAL FALLS, RI 

GM2 

RET. 11-01-2004 

TAPS 08-21-2023 

MONTI, JEROME 

ROYAL OAK, MI 

MORA, ABRAHAM 

GUAM, GU 

MULSON, JOSEPH 

ARIZONA CITY, AZ 

MURPHY, MICHAEL 

OVERGAARD, AZ 

MURTAGH, MICHAEL 

TRAVERSE CITY, MI 

NEWBERRY, RUSSELL 

JACKSON, MO 

NEWMAN, EDWIN 

BOWIE, MD 

NOLAN, GREGORY 

WOODBRIDE, VA 

O'BRIEN, DANIEL 

CAMDEN, NC 

OCKER, ELAINE 

ELSINORE, UT 

OCONNOR, MICHAEL 

REDONDO BEACH, CA 

DCCS 

SKC 

SK1 

MKCS 

CAPT 

BMC 

LCDR 

YN1 

F&S4 

SKCS 

SN 

RET. 06-01-2003 

TAPS 08-26-2023 

RET. 08-01-1977 

TAPS 07-01-2023 

RET. 08-01-1988 

TAPS 08-22-2023 

RET. 09-01-1993 

TAPS 07-15-2023 

RET. 01-01-1992 

TAPS 10-27-2023 

RET. 08-01-1976 

TAPS 08-07-2023 

RET. 09-09-1992 

TAPS 07-20-2023 

RET. 09-01-2007 

TAPS 08-12-2023 

RET. 06-01-2006 

TAPS 07-23-2023 

RET. 09-10-2004 

TAPS 07-08-2023 

RET. 09-01-1955 

TAPS 08-22-2023 

POORE, WILBUR 

WEST MONROE, LA 

PRAYLO, CHRISTOPHER 

NEW ORLEANS, LA 

REISSIG, WALTER 

MILL CREEK, WA 

REYNOLDS, RICHARD 

FULTON, CA 

ROBLES, RAMIRO 

LA FERIA, TX 

ROE, EDWARD 

SUMMERFIELD, FL 

ROEHM, ROBERT 

LAKE WORTH, FL 

ROSE, REVIS 

PERRY, FL 

ROSEN, ROBERT 

BLOOMFIELD HILL, MI 

RUSSELL, WILLIAM 

WOODBRIDGE, VA 

SAN JUAN, RAMON 

CORPUS CHRIST, TX 

BMC 

EM3 

CAPT 

FSCS 

PSC 

CAPT 

BMCS 

ETC 

SN 

CAPT 

MMC 

RET. 06-26-1991 

TAPS 09-08-2023 

RET. 06-20-1985 

TAPS 07-13-2023 

RET. 07-01-1987 

TAPS 08-23-2023 

RET. 11-01-2006 

TAPS 08-29-2023 

RET. 11-09-1996 

TAPS 09-10-2023 

RET. 11-01-1991 

TAPS 07-30-2023 

RET. 09-01-1975 

TAPS 09-22-2023 

RET. 11-01-2010 

TAPS 10-04-2023 

RET. 08-18-1954 

TAPS 08-28-2023 

RET. 07-01-1983 

TAPS 10-15-2023 

RET. 09-01-1969 

TAPS 09-05-2023 



83

TAPS 

SANDUSKY, CLIFTON 

PECULIAR, MO 

FSCS 

RET. 01-29-1998 

TAPS 07-12-2023 

SONNENBERG, RONALD 

GRAND ISLAND, FL 

CWO3 

RET. 11-01-1978 

TAPS 07-18-2023 

SARRA, ALVIN 

NORTH PORT, FL 

CAPT 

RET. 08-01-1996 

TAPS 09-07-2023 

STARKWEATHER, DANA 

MANSON, WA 

CAPT 

RET. 07-01-1993 

TAPS 10-14-2023 

SCHAFER, THOMAS 

TERRYTOWN, LA 

CDR 

RET. 06-01-1978 

TAPS 07-22-2023 

STEARNS, LORI 

SIERRA VISTA, AZ 

YN2 

RET. 08-01-1994 

TAPS 09-24-2023 

SCHEIDEL, GARY 

ROCKFORD, MI 

BM1 

RET. 07-20-2011 

TAPS 07-09-2023 

STEED, JEROLD 

ILWACO, WA 

BMC 

RET. 11-01-1985 

TAPS 06-30-2023 

SCHERER, WILLIAM 

PASS CHRISTIAN, MS 

SKC 

RET. 03-01-1977 

TAPS 09-24-2023 

STOCK, ROBERT 

CROSSLAKE, MN 

YNCS 

RET. 02-01-1981 

TAPS 09-04-2023 

SCHREINER, MARION 

MOBILE, AL 

MKC 

RET. 08-01-1981 

TAPS 08-05-2023 

STONE, GORDON 

PEABODY, MA 

PERS3 

RET. 06-20-2001 

TAPS 07-18-2023 

SEVER, RONALD 

DAPHNE, AL 

ATC 

RET. 06-01-1986 

TAPS 10-28-2023 

STRIBLING, GRADY 

SAVANNAH, GA 

CWO3 

RET. 08-01-1985 

TAPS 08-10-2023 

SHELTRY, LEONARD 

ELIZABETH CITY, NC 

LT 

RET. 05-01-2005 

TAPS 10-28-2023 

SWANSON, ROY 

WHITE SALMON, WA 

CDR 

RET. 06-01-1988 

TAPS 08-30-2023 

SMELTZER, SCOTT 

KALAMAZOO, MI 

CS3 

RET. 07-01-1954 

TAPS 07-25-2023 

SWEENEY, THERESA 

FORT MYERS, FL 

BM2 

RET. 07-28-2006 

TAPS 07-23-2023 


SMITH, PATRICIA 

PANAMA CITY, FL 

SMITH, RAYMOND 

ELIOT, ME 

YNC 

ENC 

RET. 10-08-1994 

TAPS 07-12-2023 

RET. 08-01-1968 

TAPS 08-05-2023 

TAYLOR, FRANK 

SIMSBURY, CT 

TAYLOR, THOMAS 

SELBYVILLE, DE 

THOMAS, GEORGE 

LEDYARD, CT 

THOMAS, JERRY 

HUNTINGTON, OR 

THURSTON, JOHN 

FALL RIVER, MA 

TOWNSEND, DONALD 

HAMILTON, NY 

TOWNSEND, JESS 

CLOVIS, CA 

TRAMMELL, JAMES 

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 

TURNER, FREDERICK 

WEST CHESTER, PA 

WADE, WILLIAM 

WARRENTON, OR 

WALKER, GERALD 

CONCORD, GA 

ETC 

CAPT 

MUC 

RMC 

BMC 

CDR 

DCC 

CDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CWO3 

RET. 10-01-1994 

TAPS 09-25-2023 

RET. 08-01-1999 

TAPS 10-04-2023 

RET. 06-01-1981 

TAPS 10-20-2023 

RET. 05-01-1980 

TAPS 08-23-2023 

RET. 09-01-1976 

TAPS 07-29-2023 

RET. 01-02-1989 

TAPS 08-19-2023 

RET. 04-01-1992 

TAPS 08-08-2023 

RET. 10-19-1996 

TAPS 09-01-2023 

RET. 05-08-1997 

TAPS 08-28-2023 

RET. 09-01-1992 

TAPS 09-23-2023 

RET. 09-01-1980 

TAPS 07-24-2023 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

WANDERSEE, DARWIN 

ANTIOCH, CA 

PS2 

RET. 05-09-2005 

TAPS 07-28-2023 

WIMBERLEY, ADDISON 

LEESBURG, FL 

CWO3 

RET. 08-01-1981 

TAPS 08-26-2023 

TAPS 

WEBB, WILLIAM 

KINGSPORT, TN 

BM3 

RET. 11-28-2020 

TAPS 09-15-2023 

WITTMAN, ALBERT 

RICHFIELD, MN 

CDR 

RET. 11-16-1991 

TAPS 07-19-2023 

WELLS, DAVID 


YNCM 

RET. 06-01-1983 

TAPS 07-06-2023 

WREN, RUSSELL 

SHEBOYGAN, WI 

BMCS 

RET. 07-01-1978 

TAPS 09-15-2023 

WHITHAM, GARY 

QUEZON CITY, PHIL 

AD2 

RET. 10-01-1999 

TAPS 08-12-2023 

YAWN, ROY 

LARGO, FL 

ENC 

RET. 06-01-1968 

TAPS 07-30-2023 

WIKE, DENISE 

SAN DIMAS, CA 

CDR 

RET. 08-09-2013 

TAPS 09-10-2023 

ZHUK, ANTHONY 

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 

IT3 

RET. 08-27-2022 

TAPS 10-20-2023 

WILLIAMS, JEFFERY 

DIAMONDHEAD, MS 

BMC 

RET. 06-01-1983 

TAPS 10-07-2023 

ZIEGLER, FREDERICK 

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL 

EMCS 

RET. 08-01-1999 

TAPS 07-20-2023 

WILLIAMS, SAMUEL 

TALLAHASSEE, FL 

LTJG 

RET. 07-29-1971 

TAPS 08-17-2023 

ZIENTEK, RICHARD 

CHARLOTTE, NC 

CWO4 

RET. 09-01-1990 

TAPS 08-29-2023 



85

TAPS 

USPHS 

ANGERBAUER, KENT 

SAN RAFAEL, CA 

CDR 

RET. 06-01-1992 

TAPS 08-20-2023 

MARWEDEL, LARRY 

PFLUGERVILLE, TX 

CAPT 

RET. 10-01-1994 

TAPS 08-05-2023 

BERGTHOLDT, HARRY 

LEAGUE CITY, TX 

CAPT 

RET. 07-01-1989 

TAPS 07-14-2023 

MCLIVERTY, WILLIAM 

FARMINGTON, NM 

CAPT 

RET. 08-01-2007 

TAPS 07-11-2023 

BETTS, WILLIAM 

HENDERSONVILLE, TN 

CAPT 

RET. 01-01-1998 

TAPS 09-15-2023 

MIDTHUN, JOHN 

ANCHORAGE, AK 

CAPT 

RET. 07-01-2002 

TAPS 08-14-2023 

BROSEUS, ROGER 

SILVER SPRING, MD 

CAPT 

RET. 02-01-2000 

TAPS 08-08-2023 

MORGAN, NEWLIN 

BETHESDA, MD 

CDR 

RET. 07-01-2000 

TAPS 09-17-2023 

BROWN, MICHAEL 

STILLWALTER, OK 

CAPT 

RET. 01-01-2001 

TAPS 07-15-2023 

MORSE, HERBERT 

DURWOOD, MD 

CAPT 

RET. 01-01-2003 

TAPS 09-11-2023 

CLAPP, DAVID 

MAITLAND, FL 

CAPT 

RET. 11-01-1989 

TAPS 08-09-2023 

MUSACHIO, MICHAEL 

BELTSVILLE, MD 

CAPT 

RET. 07-01-1980 

TAPS 08-24-2023 

CLARK, JAMES 

YUKON, OK 

CAPT 

RET. 01-01-1980 

TAPS 08-05-2023 

RAHMAN, JAMES 

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 

CAPT 

RET. 02-01-1991 

TAPS 01-21-2022 

COPP, DANA 

TUCSON, AZ 

CAPT 

RET. 10-01-1993 

TAPS 08-21-2023 

SCHMIDT, PAUL 

VALRICO, FL 

CAPT 

RET. 12-01-1974 

TAPS 09-19-2023 

DICKSON, JAMES 

PROVINCETOWN, MA 

RADM 

RET. 10-01-1989 

TAPS 08-12-2023 

SCHWALM, CONRAD 

GLENMILLS, PA 

CAPT 

RET. 10-01-1989 

TAPS 10-04-2023 


FULLER, RICHARD 

CUSTER, SD 

HERATH, JOHN 

BEMIDJI, MN 

JOHNSON, DALE 

BILLINGS, MT 

KAHN, BERND 

ATLANTA, GA 

KNAPP, ALAN 

BEAVERTON, OR 

LIM, ILUMINADA 

ALEXANDRIA, VA 

NOAA 

GREENAWALT, CHARLES 

FAYETTEVILLE, PA 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

LCDR 

RET. 07-01-2009 

TAPS 08-02-2023 

RET. 11-01-1974 

TAPS 07-31-2023 

RET. 06-01-1985 

TAPS 08-12-2023 

RET. 11-01-1974 

TAPS 07-13-2023 

RET. 06-01-2008 

TAPS 07-11-2023 

RET. 10-01-2007 

TAPS 07-30-2023 

RET. 05-01-1996 

TAPS 09-17-2023 

SEVERN, JEFFREY 

CUT BANK, MT 

SWETT, DALE 

PARADISE VALLEY, AZ 

TRISSEL, LAWRENCE 

PONTE VEDRA, FL 

WALLER, ROBERT 

CHARLESTON, SC 

WHITE, RICHARD 

FOREST GROVE, OR 

MCKIM, GERRY 

SAINT JOHNS, FL 

LCDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

RET. 11-01-2021 

TAPS 10-06-2023 

RET. 10-01-1992 

TAPS 08-19-2023 

RET. 07-01-1989 

TAPS 08-11-2023 

RET. 02-01-1997 

TAPS 10-09-2023 

RET. 08-01-1987 

TAPS 08-22-2023 

RET. 01-01-2000 

TAPS 08-10-2023 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

DEPENDENT TAPS 

SUSAN LENES 

GULFPORT, MS 

FRANCES “JANE” SANDERS 

MACON, GA 

NINA FAYE MURRAY 

BRANFORD, CT 

SUSAN GIBSON 

ODENTON, MD 

JOSEPHINE F. SIMPSON 

FUQUAY VARINA, NC 

SHIRLEY ANN (MARTIN) BERG 

PHILADELPHIA, MS 

LINA C. WIIK 

BRACKETTVILLE, TX 

SANDRA K. (BLAND) CENTA 

PAINESVILLE, OH 

REGINA GARCIA FOSTER 

LENEXA, KS 

BARBARA ANN KRIETEMEYER 

AUBURN, AL 

LOIS B. WALLACE 

E. SANDWICH, MA 

ANA I. ALONSO 

MIAMI, FL 

PHYLLIS ANN (FOLEY) MCCAUGHERTY 

AUBURN, NH 

MARYANN CALIFANO 


MARY SMITH (MAGGIE) 

CHESTER, VA 

ANTHONY JOHNSON 

PASADENA, MD 

MARY ANNE GALLAGHER 

PLYMOUTH, MA 

VIRGINIA M. WIMAN 

HAMPSTEAD, NC 

ELIZABETH (BETH) G. MCKINNEY 

SMITHFIELD, VA 

WIFE OF CDR PETER A. LENES, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF CWO4 ROBERT SANDERS, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF CDR JOHN MURRAY, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF CAPT ROGER D. GIBSON, USCG (RET) 

FORMER SPOUSE OF YNCM DWANE SIMPSON, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF CAPT BRIAN C. BERG, USPHS (RET) 

WIFE OF CPO JASON GAULKE, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF CWO4 FRANK M. CENTA III, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF CWO4/LT(E) MICHAEL FOSTER, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF CAPT GEORGE KRIETEMEYER, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF LCDR JAMES B. WALLACE, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF ETC GUILLERMO R. ALONSO JR., USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF MKC JOHN M. MCCAUGHERTY, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF SSCS ROBERT CALIFANO, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF CAPT DONALD SMITH, USPHS (RET) 

HUSBAND OF SK1 YVETTE RENEEE JOHNSON, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF YNCM PETER J. GALLAGHER, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF THE LATE RADM KENNETH G. WIMAN, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF MSTCS ROY H. MCKINNEY, USCG (RET) 

08-16-2023 

07-24-2023 

08-08-2023 

09-18-2023 

11-04-2023 

04-26-2023 

10-01-2023 

08-16-2023 

06-01-2023 

10-28-2023 

07-05-2023 

08-09-2023 

12-08-2022 

10-09-2023 

05-03-2023 

07-11-2023 

10-15-2023 

09-29-2023 

08-31-2023 

RUTH MARIE LYONS 

AIKEN, SC 

WIFE OF CDR JIMMY A. LYONS, NOAA (RET) 

09-16-2023 

BARBARA (LYNN) WILKINSON 

GLOUCESTER, VA 

WIFE OF DCCS DAVID T. WILKINSON, USCG (RET) 

04-15-2023 

DOLORES L. MOYSTER 

TAMPA, FL 

WIFE OF CWO4 BRUCE L. MOYSTER, USCG (RET) 

09-01-2023 

LORA ZESSIN 

DELAVAN, IL 

WIFE OF LCDR STEPHEN PEARSON, USCGR (RET) 

09-20-2023 

NITA STOUTJESDYK 

JEFFERSON, TX 

WIFE OF CWO3 JAMES H. STOUTJESDYK, USCG (RET) 

05-15-2023 

BARBARA J. HOLLAWAY 

WARRENTON, VA 

WIFE OF MKCM LARRY HOLLAWAY, USCG (RET) 

08-06-2023 

JUDITH ANN MANIS 

BRISTOL, TN 

WIFE OF QM1 JOHN MANIS, USCG (RET) 

09-01-2023 


TAPS 


87

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION CHAPLAIN'S CORNER 

NEW 

BEGINNINGS 

Can you believe it? We just celebrated 

the holidays, and now we look back 

at 2023 and the beginning of 2024. 

As we embark upon this year, it is my 

hope that our goals and efforts will 

acknowledge and pull upon strength 

from outside of ourselves and fortify 

our personal relationships. 

How was 2023 for you? Was it a year to cherish 

or to quickly forget? Whatever the outcome, the 

beginning of a new year fills us with hope—a 

hope that positive changes are in the works 

or on the horizon. We receive a chance for a 

fresh start—a new beginning. Many of us make 

resolutions, pledges, or promises to ourselves, 

our families, or others that we will personally be 

different this year. 

You may have given up on making resolutions 

based on the past. Regardless of past success 

or failure, I challenge you to give a new year’s 

resolution another try, but this time realize 

that keeping this promise is a team effort. As 

a nondenominational Christian chaplain, my 

strength comes from God and his words to 

humankind. Why not invite God to team up with 

you this year! 

The biblical disciples were faced with a new 

day. Their master Jesus had died. Their hopes 

were crushed—their dreams shattered. Per 

the instructions of Jesus, they assembled in an 

upper room knowing what needed to be done 

but lacking both the power and the desire to 

carry it out. It was here in their doubt that God 

moved mightily. 

In the book of Acts, we see that God powerfully 

entered their lives, and they became bold 

messengers. As we contemplate our resolutions, 

we must do so realizing that we cannot be 

successful at keeping them apart from God. He 

reminds us in the book of John 15:5 that “apart 

from me you can do nothing.” So, you are not 

alone! Here are some good ways to start this 

year strong. 

First, find time to strengthen yourself spiritually 

each day. Where can you make an appointment 

to read your bible, read an inspirational 

magazine or book, pray, sing, journal, etc.? 

Second, gather with others who will support your 

improvement; we need one another to succeed, 

so find a group or a place to plug in. Don’t get 

discouraged. Don’t quit. Let’s all commit to our 

best, most resilient year ever! 


THE LONG BLUE LINE


89

STAND TALL 

STAND 

TALL & BE 

PROUD 

By Carl J. Chancey, RPh., MPH, Captain, USPHS (Ret.) 


Thank you for “The Long Blue Line.” 

It is an excellent publication which 

has brought back many memories of 

my eight years in the Coast Guard, 

having served from 1966 to 1974 and 

receiving an Honorable Discharge as 

an E-5 (SK-2). 

I reported to Cape May on February 27, 1967, 

and satisfactorily completed my recruit training on 

April 30, 1967. I was assigned to Kilo Company 

67, Barracks 257-01 Deck, and because I 

had played the tuba in my high school band, I 

was also assigned to the Coast Guard Recruit 

TRACEN Band, i.e., double duty, recruit training 

all day and band practice after the evening chow 

every weekday and occasionally on a Saturday. 

I still have my certificate honoring me as being 

a member of the TRACEN band. The required 

photo taken in service-dress blues wearing the 

“dixie-cup” white cover during the second week 

of training which we were required to send home 

to our parents I still have. I can recall my father 

telling me on the phone that when he received 

the photo-package he did not know who the 

photo was of until I told him it was me. 

The articles in the winter 2023 The Long Blue 

Line “If You Build It, They Will Come – Field of 

Dreams,” authored by Vince Patton, MCPOCG, 

USCG (Ret.), and “Cape May Today,” authored 

by MCPO Jeff Creighton, USCG, (Ret.), G-117 

TRACEN Alameda, and the Q&A with Capt. 

Warren D. Judge, Commanding Officer, CG 

TRACEN, Cape May, were excellent and 

informative. They brought back for me many 

memories of my time at Cape May. Things were 

different back in 1967 and 

the training was tough both 

physically and mentally. 

The “Coast Guardsman’s 

Manual” was our go to 

study manual, and we were 

required to read and study 

every page and our Company 

CO would frequently and 

randomly select recruits 

and ask specific questions 

that could only be answered 

if you had read and studied 

the assigned sections of the 

manual. M-1 rifles and 45-caliber 

pistols were the weapons at that 

time. Drilling and marching with 

the heavy M-1 was an experience I have never 

forgotten. I went to Cape May as a 19-yearold 

“kid” and left Cape May as a 20-year-old 

physically fit, mentally prepared, team focused 

young Coast Guardsman. Of course, there 

was still a lot to learn after Cape May with 

new assignments and responsibilities as time 

progressed. I am extremely proud to have served 

in the Coast Guard. 

After leaving the Coast Guard, I went to 

Pharmacy School and obtained my B.S. with 

Honors in Pharmacy. I applied to the U.S. Public 

Health Service Commissioned Officer Corps, was 

commissioned on September 30, 1977, as a Lt 

(O-3) and retired on March 01, 1997, as a Captain 

(O-6). I spent my 20-year career assigned 

to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 

(FDA) field force as an Investigator, National 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

Expert Investigator for Emergency and 

Epidemiological Operations, Supervisory 

Criminal Investigator, and completed my 

career as FDA’s Director, Special Prosecution 

Staff, assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 

Baltimore and Department of Justice, Office 

of Consumer Litigation, Washington, D.C. In 

1981, FDA selected me into their Long-Term 

Training Program, and I was admitted to The 

Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene 

and Public Health full-time Master of Public 

Health degree program and graduated 

on May 27, 1982. I had an exceptionally 

rewarding, exciting, and satisfying “nontraditional” 

pharmacy career with FDA. 

I am also extremely proud of having 

served in the U.S. Public Health Service 

Commissioned Officer Corps. 

I’m reminded of the importance of using the 

correct terminology when referring to the U.S. 

Public Health Service Commissioned Officer 

Corps. The “Public Health Service” is an agency 

within the Department of Health and Human 

Services (DHHS), and the U.S. Public Health 

Service Commissioned Officer Corps (PHS 

Commissioned Corps) is defined by Federal 

law as a military service within the Public Health 

Service/DHHS. See U.S. Public Health Service 

Commissioned Corps Brand Guidelines (usphs. 

gov) 

The NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA 

Corps) is also an important one of our nation’s 

eight uniformed services. NOAA Corps officers 

are an integral part of the National Oceanic 

and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an 

agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

See https://www.omao.noaa.gov/noaa-corps/ 

about-noaa-corps 

My Kilo Company 67 CO repeatedly shouted 

out “Stand Tall and Be Proud” and this is what I 

consistently have believed in and embraced for 

all these years since 1967 throughout my Coast 

Guard service and PHS Commissioned Officer 

Corps career. 

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION & BE PROUD 


91

PPC-RAS 

SELF SERVICE AND DIRECT 

ACCESS’S NEW LOOK 

The Pay and Personnel Center has seen a substantial increase in the number of retirees and annuitants 

using Direct Access Self-Service to manage their own accounts which enable you to get immediate 

results. 

When members access DA Self-Service through this link: https://hcm.direct-access.uscg.mil/psp/ 

HCPRD/, they will be looking at a new and improved home page. 

To make changes to your personal information, select Retired Self Service from the My Homepage 

dropdown menu in the upper left. 

(NOTE: Some retirees may have more than one user access; in which case they will 

need to select the Member Self Service tile to view the Self-Service menu.) 


This will take you to an easy-to-read list of the following critical transactions: 

Thank you for making this system work for you. Remember! If your address and contact information 

are incorrect in DA, your tax documents will be delivered to the wrong location. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

NEW USCG RETIREE MENTORING & 

TRANSITION ASSISTANCE NETWORK! 

RADM Jeff Hathaway, USCG (Ret.) 

CG National Retiree Council Co-Chair 

hathaway.cgnrc@aol.com 

Your USCG National Retiree Council is sponsoring this program to maintain a searchable database 

for our retiree community (and those soon to retire) to both request and offer personal mentoring and 

advice in a variety of areas. Thinking about relocating to a particular geographic area but would like 

insights from those that are living there? Find some help here. Wondering how to start a small business? 

You can find a mentor here. 

We are using a software service called Member Planet to host our registration process and database. It 

is both secure, easy to use and offers great flexibility. Once submitted, your registration is automatically 

forwarded to Mr. Bob Hinds, USCG Retiree Services Program Manager. He validates your eligibility then 

grants access to the database. 

We hope that the USCG retiree community finds this program useful. Prior pilot programs showed a 

demand for such a program but lacked an easily accessible database maintained in the public domain. 

VISIT http://www.uscgretireenetwork.org/ TO LEARN MORE AND ENROLL! 

A big thank you to our 

Capital Area Retiree 

Council for originally 

promoting a retiree 

mentoring program and 

sponsoring the first 

"proof of concept" pilot 

program! 

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION PPC-RAS 


93

OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES 

USCG PAY & PERSONNEL CENTER 

RETIREE AND ANNUITANT SERVICES (PPC-RAS) 

4 WAYS TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR RETIRED 

PAY ACCOUNT 

With our improved tools, you can manage your account easily and when it is most 

convenient for you. 

WEBSITE 

Site address: www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/ 

On the website you can: 

• Get important updates 

• Get information on accessing Direct Access (“DA”) Self-Service; 

• View and download forms and packets 

• Get answers to frequently-asked questions (FAQs) 

Site address: https://hcm.direct-access.uscg.mil/ 

Helpful Guides are located at www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/gp/ 

You can do the following in DA Self-Service (with nearly immediate results): 


SELF-SERVE 

EMAIL 

PHONE 

POSTAL 

MAIL 

• View Payslip 

• View/Print Year End Forms 

• View/Change Phone Numbers 

• View/Print 1099R 

• View/Change Mailing & Email 

Address 

• Change EFT/Direct Deposit 

1099Rs are mailed to your address in DA. Helpful information is also 

sent via email. 

Email us at: ppc-dg-customercare@uscg.mil 

• Email us questions or requests. We track/respond to all. 

• Submit forms (e. g. W-4 for Taxes). We track/respond to all. 

• Avoid waiting for mailed documents to be delivered to us. 

• Avoid having to call. 

Call us at: 866-772-8724 

• Change Delivery Options 

• Change Voluntary Deductions 

• View Final Pay Beneficiary 

• Change Federal & State Tax 

• Print Retired Pay Award Letter 

• View Open Debts 

We are scheduled for a new phone system in late fall 2023 

If you do not have access to a computer or email, you can submit your 

request through US Postal Mail. Our mailing address is: 

Commanding Officer 

US Coast Guard PPC (RAS) 

444 SE Quincy St 

Topeka KS 66683-3591 

PPC-RAS can process most requests within one or two pay periods. 

Remember! Incomplete forms or missing documents may result in a delay in processing your request. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

COAST GUARD 

LEGAL ASSISTANCE 

Coast Guard legal assistance attorneys provide advice and counsel regarding personal legal issues to 

thousands of service members, dependents and retirees each year at no cost. These issues may involve 

family law, estate planning, consumer law, land-lord-tenant relations, immigration or many other topics. 

Legal Assistance Program, CI 5801.4F: https://media.defense.gov/2017/Mar/15/2001716717/-1/- 

1/0/CI_5801.4F.PDF 

Legal Readiness Checklist: www.uscg.mil/Portals/0/Headquarters/Legal/la/Legal%20 

Readiness%20Checklist.pdf 

Personal Readiness Plan (Personal Identity & Vital Documents; Emergency Information & Powers 

of Attorney; Healthcare & Medical Directives; Income, Savings and Investments, and Life Insurance; 

Monthly Expenses, Debt, and Credit Reports; Primary Residence, Insurance & Household Services; 

Vehicle Information, Insurance, Titles & Documentation; Taxes; Survivor Assistance & Benefits; 

Estate Planning & Funeral Instructions): www.uscg.mil/Resources/Legal/LMA/Legal_Assistance/ 

Personal-Readiness-Plan/ 

Legal Assistance Attorneys: www.uscg.mil/Resources/Legal/LMA/Legal_Assistance/Find-A- 

Legal-Assistance-Lawyer/ 

1st District Legal: 617-223-8500 

7th District Legal: 305-415-6949 








13 th PACIFIC AREA ATLANTIC AREA 

11 th 

17 th 

14 th 

9 th 1 st 

5 th 

7 th 

8 th 


U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES 

95


CG NATIONAL RETIREE COUNCIL / 

REGIONAL RETIREE COUNCILS & CO-CHAIRS 

CGNRC CO-CHAIRS 

CAPITAL AREA 

CENTRAL GULF COAST 

(MOBILE) 

CHARLESTON 

CLEVELAND 

RADM Meredith Austin 

maustincgnrc@gmail.com 

MCPO Lloyd Pierce 

cgsilverancientmariner11@outlook.com 

David Bernstein 

dberns01@gmail.com 

PSC John Milkiewisz 

locke45@hotmail.com 

Terry Gilbreath 

tgilbreath@asdd.com 

Charlie Womack 

chwomack@gmail.com 

Ray Bryant 

basecharlestonrrc@gmail.com 

Timothy Schneider 

basecharlestonrrc@gmail.com 

Currently Inactive 

PENSACOLA, FL & 

BALDWIN COUNTY, AL 

SAN JUAN, PR 

SECTOR OHIO VALLEY 

SOUTHWEST 

ST. LOUIS 

Jeff Rosenberg 

cg.rrc.pns@gmail.com 

Jose Baltar 

uscg.sj.rc@gmail.com 

Carlos López 

uscg.sj.rc@gmail.com 

James Armstrong 

James.S.Armstrong@uscg.mil 

Gerald Nauert 

gnauert@oldhamcountyky.gov 

Joseph Leonard 

jleonard83@aol.com 

Eric Pugh 

eric.pugh12@outlook.com 

Keith Livingstone 

bassbolt@yahoo.com 

Becky Livingstone 

rebalivingstone@att.net 

EAST CENTRAL FL 

Jim Reynolds 

james.reynolds.cg@gmail.com 

TAMPA BAY AREA 

Don Goldstein 

DGoldstein1@tampabay.rr.com 

LeRoy Dennison 

LeRoy@dennison.com 


FIRST CG RETIREES 

JACKSONVILLE 

HAWAII 

KODIAK 

MIAMI 

NEW ORLEANS 

NORTH EAST 

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

NORTHWEST 

Mike Rosecrans 

m.rosecrans@gmail.com 

YNCM Bobby Wester 

bwester2549@aol.com 

Rod Schultz 

rschultz369@gmail.com 

Anthony Lim 

hawaiiretiree.cc@gmail.com 

Robert Lachowsky 

roblachowsky@yahoo.com 

John Whiddon 

jbwhiddon52@gmail.com 

David Cinalli 

david.cinalli@yahoo.com 

Marc Fagenbaum 

cgrcmiamibeach@gmail.com 

Currently Inactive 

Kevin Brown 

CGRetireeNorthEast@gmail.com 

Thomas Hall 

tadahall@msn.com 

David Swanson 

ddswanson@msn.com 

RADM Bert Kinghorn 

CoChairs@cgretirenw.org 

LCDR Phil Johnson 

CoChairs@cgretirenw.org 

YORKTOWN 

David Bunch 

dcbunch52@verizon.net 

Recouncil@TCYYorktown.ucg.mil 

You may elect not to be mailed the 

newsletter by accessing your DA 

Self-Service account at 

• www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/gp/ 

• Select “Change My Delivery 

Options” 

• Uncheck the block labeled 

“I elect to receive the Retiree 

Newsletter by mail.” 

You may also contact CG PPC 

Customer Care for assistance by 

calling 866-772-8724 or 785-339- 

2200, or by sending an e-mail to 

PPC-DG-CustomerCare@uscg.mil 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

CG PAY & PERSONNEL CENTER, RETIREE & 

ANNUITANT SERVICES (PPC-RAS), DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE & 

OTHER IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS & WEBSITES 

Directory Assistance and Other Important Phone Numbers & Websites are also accessible at: 

dcms.uscg.mil/portals/10/cg-1/ppc/ras/rasdirectory.pdf 

Questions, Address or Direct-Deposit Changes 

If you need information or have questions 

about: 

• Your retired or survivor benefit plan (SBP) 

annuity payments 

• Your retired/annuitant statement 

• IRS Form 1099-R (reporting taxable 

income) 

• You need to change your and your 

dependents’ home mailing address (for 

retired/annuitant statement, newsletter, 

1099-R, correspondence) 

• Your financial institution or account 

number for your direct deposit 

• Report a change to your designation of 

beneficiary for payment of unpaid retired 

pay (Note: use Form *CG PPC-3600 

Designation of Beneficiary for Payment of 

Unpaid Retired Pay) 

You may make the requests listed above by 

telephone, by fax, or in writing. The telephone 

and fax numbers are: 

Toll free: 1-866-772-8724 

Commercial: (785) 339-2200 

Fax: (785) 339-3770 

Allotments, SBP Coverage and Beneficiary 

Changes 

If you need to: 

• Start, stop, or change an allotment (you may 

use Form *CG PPC-7221 Retired Allotment 

Authorization Form, fax in the form or a 

written request, call us or send us an e-mail 

request). 

• Report a change to your survivor benefit 

plan (SBP) coverage (must be in writing) 

You may fax your request to (785) 339-3770 

or mail to: 

Commanding Officer (RAS) 

USCG Pay & Personnel Center 


Topeka, KS 66683-3591 

(*) Note: Forms are available from the PPC website at: 

www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/pd/forms/ or directly from the IRS. 

Income Tax Withholding Changes 

If you need to: 

• Start or change the amount of state tax 

withholding (retirees can call, e-mail, fax or use 

*IRS Form W-4, or state form. If using IRS form, 

indicate that the form is for state income tax 

withholding, not federal, which state it’s for and 

the dollar amount to be withheld, (minimum 

amount is $10.00, no cents)). We cannot 

withhold state tax for annuitants. 

• Change your federal income tax 

withholding (retirees use Form W-4, 

annuitants use Form W-4P) 

• Change exemptions or additional 

withholding 

Federal tax changes must be in writing. The 

original Form IRS W-4 or W-4P must be mailed 

to PPC (RAS) for action and filing, per IRS 

requirements. PPC (RAS) cannot accept a 

faxed W-4 or W-4P. Please mail to: 




Topeka, KS 66683-3591 

(*) Note: Forms are available from the PPC website at: 

www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/pd/forms/ or directly from the IRS. 

Report of Death 

To report the death of a Coast Guard, NOAA 

or PHS retiree/annuitant call: 

Toll free: 1-866-772-8724 

Commercial: (785) 339-2200 

Fax: (785) 339-3770 

Or write: 




Topeka, KS 66683-3591 

DEPENDENT TAPS: To place a Dependent TAPS 

notice in The Retiree Newsletter, provide the 

dependent’s name, relationship to retiree, date 

of passing, and city/state to Robert Hinds at: 

Robert.C.Hinds@uscg.mil 

phone: 202-475-5451 



97



MEDICARE PART B ENROLLMENT IS MANDATORY AT AGE 65 

dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-1/retiree/docs/pdf/Turning_65_with_MEDICARE. 

pdf?ver=2018-09-07-143218-930 

When you turn 65, your medical benefits will change. MEDICARE will become your primary medical 

coverage and TRICARE pays secondary to MEDICARE. You MUST enroll in MEDICARE PART 

B to retain your TRICARE coverage. If you are within 90 days of your 65th birthday, you should 

log on to www.ssa.gov or medicare.gov to enroll in MEDICARE PART B. Additional information is 

accessible at: tricare.mil/Welcome/Eligibility/MedicareEligible.aspx?sc_database=web or by phone 

at 866-773-0404. You may also call the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) 

at 800-538-9552. 

OTHER IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS AND WEBSITES 

Medical/Dental Benefits/Phone/Websites/ 

Notes 

Eligibility (DEERS)/ID Cards 

1-800-538-9552 

(TTY/TDD) 

1-866-363-2883 

www.tricare.mil/deers 

In CA: 1-800-334-4162; 

In AK & HI 1-800-527-5602 

Mail-Order Pharmacy 

1-877-363-1303 

www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/ 

Prescriptions/Filling Prescriptions/TMOP 

Federal Employee Dental & Vision Insurance 

Program (FEDVIP—Retirees) 

1-877-888-3337 

https://www.benefeds.com/ 

TRICARE Overseas 

1-888-777-8343 

www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/overview/ 

Regions/RegionsNonUS 

TRICARE East Region Contractor 

1-800-444-5445 

TRICARE West Region Contractor 

1-844-866-9378 

www.tricare.mil 

TRICARE For Life 

1-866-773-0404 

www.tricare.mil/tfl/default.cfm 

www.tricare.mil/LifeEvents/Retiring 

TRICARE Eligibility—Pharmacy 

(Medicare info) 

1-877-363-1303 

www.tricare.mil/ CoveredServices/Pharmacy/ 

Eligibility.aspx 

Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program 

(FLTCIP) 

1-800-LTC-FEDS (1-800-582-3337) 

www.LTCFEDS.com 

CG Health Benefits Advisor 

1-800-942-2422 

Veterans Benefits 

Phone/Websites/Notes 

Department of Veterans Affairs 

1-800-827-1000 

www.va.gov 

Reporting the Death of a Veteran/Retiree to 

the VA, 800-827-1000, Press #5, https://www. 

va.gov/resources/how-to-report-the-death-ofa-veteran-to-va/ 

VA Office of Survivors Assistance 

https://www.va.gov/survivors/ 

Insurance Information 

1-800-669-8477 

www.insurance.va.gov 

Veteran’s Group Life Insurance 

www.insurance.va.gov/sglisite/vgli/vgli.htm 

New VGLI Applications and VGLI 

Reinstatements: 

OSGLI 

PO Box 41618 

Philadelphia, PA 19176-9913 

1-800-419-1473 

Overseas phone (continued on next page) 

(973) 548-5699 

Overseas fax# 

(973) 548-5300 

Death and accelerated benefits claims only: 

Fax: 1-877-832-4943. 

All other fax inquiries: 

1-800-236-6142 

e-mail at: osgli.claims@prudential.com 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

All other inquiries: osgli.osgli@prudential.com 

General Correspondence: 

Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance 

80 Livingston Avenue 

Roseland, NJ 07068-1733 

Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents 

1-800-827-1000 

www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book.asp 

VA Pamphlet 80-02-1 

Headstones and Markers 

1-800-697-6947 

www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book.asp 

Former Spouse 

CG PPC LEGAL 

785-339-3441 

785-339-3788 (Fax) 

PPC-DG-LGL@uscg.mil 

FSPA & SBP Informational Pamphlet 

https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-1/ 

PPC/Docs/Legal/Uniformed%20Services%20 

Former%20Spouse%20Protection%20Act%20 

(FSPA).pdf 

Former Spouse ID Card and Medical 

Information 

https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-1/ 

PPC/RAS/FormerSpouseDetermination4IDcards. 

pdf?ver=a_wj5dB_ 

FMVcHvKGRPEkBw%3D%3D#:~:text=The%20 

20%2D20%2D15%20rule,if%20they%20do%20 

not%20remarry 

Additional Important Number and Websites 

Final Active Duty Pay 

1-866-772-8724 

Overseas 

(785) 339-2200 

www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/separations/finalpay/ 

Commanding Officer (SEP) 


444 SE Quincy St. 

Topeka, KS 66683-3591 

Contact PPC (SEP) for information on severance 

pay, separation pay, disability severance pay, 

LES’s, IRS Form W-2. 

Social Security 

1-800-772-1213 

www.ssa.gov 

Travel Claims 

1-866-772-8724 

Overseas 

(785) 339-2200 

www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/travel/ 

Send final travel claim to: 

Commanding Officer (TVL) 


444 SE Quincy St. 

Topeka, KS 66683-3591 

Service Records 

(314) 801-0800 

www.archives.gov/veterans/military-servicerecords 

Write to: 

National Personnel Records Center 

Military Personnel Records 

1 Archives Drive 

St. Louis, MO 63138-1002 

Veterans or next-of-kin of a deceased veteran 

can access www.archives.gov/veterans/ 

military-service-records to make requests. 

All others must write in and include complete 

name, rank/grade, SSN, dates of service, and 

date of birth of the veteran. DD-214s are also 

available via the website 

WWII U.S. Merchant Marine Awards and 

Decorations 

www.maritime.dot.gov/outreach/mariner-medals 

Contact - Awards, Flags, Medals 

Katrina McRae 

Maritime Awards Officer 

Office of Sealift Support 

1200 NEW JERSEY AVE., SE 

WASHINGTON, DC 20590 

United States 

Email: Katrina.mcrae@dot.gov 

Phone: 202-366-3198 

Fax: 202-366-2323 

Business Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm ET, M-F 

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a 

speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access 

telecommunications relay services. 

CG Social Media Sites 

A list of Official CG Social Media Sites including 

Facebook and Twitter is accessible at: 

http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/official-sites/ 

CG National Retiree Help Desk 

Toll free 1-833-224-6743 

email: NRHDesk@gmail.com 

Do NOT send Personally Identifiable Information 

(e.g. SSN, EMPID) to the CG National Retiree 

Help Desk. Visit: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/ 

retiree/nrhd-pii/ 



99

The Long Blue Line (Winter 2024)

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