Career Highlights

Active Duty CG Member for 24 years

14 years Enlisted - Worked in human resource & operational missions.

10 years Officer - Marine safety field duties including pollution prevention, planning, facility inspections, port state control, barge inspection, and major marine casualty investigations.

Port of Tampa - Earned barge inspector and investigating officer qualifications. Assessed workforce (active, reserve & auxiliary) and developed a system to better utilize all resources and increase unit’s overall productivity. Excelled at managing incidents involving vessel groundings, oil spills, tropicale cruise ship fires, cruise ship inspections and marine casualties investigations. Was selected to assist in multi-national counterdrug surge operation in the Caribbean. Also served as official interpreter for senior USCG & Dominican Republic officials during the operation, eliminating cultural/language barriers. After 9/11 attacks worked to create high interest vessel boarding program.

Port of Miami - Chief Planner for Port of Miami. Developed & coordinated mass casualty, homeland security & technology exercises and worked to ensure security at the 2003 Free Trade Area of the Americas Conference. As planner improved Miami’s Unified Command response capabilities and practices during incidents like stowaway and potential WMD responses. Led Admin staff to solve major pay and logistical issues affecting 130 reserve members by making “people” an unquestioned priority. Was commended for outstanding ability to work with and motivate people while leading exercises in security threats, mass casualty, and heavy weather events. Established crisis action center for elevated threats. Planned and executed a major simulated plane crash exercise involving 30 agencies and industry partners and received Coast Guard Commendation.

Rank at retirement: O3E (Lieutenant)

Coast Guard Assignments

• Recruit Training Center Cape May, NJ (APR-JUN 1979)
• Training Center Yorktown, VA (JUN1979-JUL1981)
• CG Air Station Kodiak, AK (JUL 1981-APR1983)
• CG Air Station Kodiak, AK (APR1983-AUG1984) USCGR
• CG Air Station Borinquen, Aguadilla, PR (AUG1984-SEP1987)
• Eleventh CG District (law enforcement) Long Beach, CA (SEP 1987-APR1991)
• CG Marine Safety Office Long Beach, CA (APR1991- MAR1994)
• Officer Candidate School, Yorktown, VA (MAR1994-JUL1994)
• CG Marine Safety Office Mobile, AL (JUL1994-JUN1997)
• CG Marine Safety Office Tampa, FL (JUN1997-AUG2002)
• CG Liaison Officer at US Embassy in Dominican Republic (DR)
• (JAN-JUN 1998 – Special Assignment)
• CG Marine Safety Office Miami, FL (AUG2002-JUL2004)

Personal Awards include:

• CG Commendation Medals (W/2 Gold Stars)
• CG Achievement Medal
• Commandant Letter of Commendation (W/2 Gold Stars)
• CG Good Conduct Award (W/3 Bronze Stars)
• National Defense Service Medal (W/1 Bronze Stars)
• Marine Safety Insignia
• Coast Guard Special Operations Special Service Ribbon (multiple)

Read Elena's Biography