Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

The master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG) is the senior enlisted member of the U.S. Coast Guard and the principal advisor to the commandant of the Coast Guard on all enlisted personnel matters.

The holder of this position is equivalent to the master chief petty officer of the Navy, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, sergeant major of the Army, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, and chief master sergeant of the Space Force, and by protocol, is equal to a vice admiral.

The MCPOCG is appointed by the commandant of the Coast Guard to serve as a spokesperson to address the issues of enlisted personnel to the highest levels in the Coast Guard and is designated as a special paygrade above E-9. As such the MCPOCG is the senior enlisted advisor to the commandant of the Coast Guard. The MCPOCG's exact duties vary, depending on the commandant, though generally devotes much time traveling throughout the Coast Guard observing training and communicating with coast guardsmen and their families. The normal tour of assignment is four years, which typically runs concurrently with the commandant.

The first member to hold this post was MCPOCG Charles L. Calhoun. The 15th and current MCPOCG is Phillip N. Waldron who assumed office on 25 July 2025.

Insignia MCPOCG insignia Sleeve Collar/Cap Badge

List of master chief petty officers of the Coast Guard Portrait Name Term of office Took office Left office Time in office 1 Charles L. Calhoun(1925–2002) 27 August 1969 1 August 1973 2 Philip F. Smith(1932–2017) 1 August 1973 1 August 1977 3 Hollis B. Stephens(1932–) 1 August 1977 1 August 1981 4 Carl W. Constantine(1938–) 1 August 1981 1 May 1986 5 Allen Thiele(1940–2017) 1 May 1986 29 June 1990 6 R. Jay Lloyd(?–) 29 June 1990 1 July 1994 7 Eric A. Trent(1944–) 1 July 1994 31 May 1998 8 Vincent W. Patton III(1954–) 31 May 1998 10 October 2002 9 Frank A. Welch(1960–2026) 10 October 2002 14 June 2006 10 Charles W. Bowen(?–) 14 June 2006 21 May 2010 11 Michael P. Leavitt(1960–) 21 May 2010 22 May 2014 12 Steven W. Cantrell(?–) 22 May 2014 17 May 2018 13 Jason M. Vanderhaden(?–) 17 May 2018 19 May 2022 14 Heath B. Jones(?–) 19 May 2022 25 July 2025 15 Phillip Waldron(?–) 25 July 2025 Incumbent

See also

Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Sergeant Major of the Army Command Sergeant Major of the US Army Reserve Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force

References

External links Master Chief Petty Officers of the Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer's official website