Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
Senior enlisted member of the US Coast Guard
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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.
| Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard | |
|---|---|
Badge of the MCPOCG | |
 Incumbent since 25 July 2025Phillip N. Waldron | |
| United States Coast Guard | |
| Type | Senior enlisted advisor |
| Abbreviation | MCPOCG |
| Reports to | Commandant of the Coast Guard |
| Appointer | Commandant of the Coast Guard |
| Term length | 4 years |
| Formation | 27 August 1969 |
| First holder | Charles L. Calhoun |
| Deputy | Deputy Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard |
| Salary | $10,758.00 per month, regardless of the incumbent's service longevity [1] |
| Website | uscg.mil/MCPOCG |
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.[2]
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.[3][4]
Insignia
| MCPOCG insignia | ||
 |  | |
| Sleeve | Collar/Cap | Badge |
List of master chief petty officers of the Coast Guard
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) |
Term of office | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| 1 |  | Charles L. Calhoun (1925–2002) | 27 August 1969 | 1 August 1973 | 3 years, 339 days | |
| 2 |  | Philip F. Smith (1932–2017) | 1 August 1973 | 1 August 1977 | 4 years, 0 days | |
| 3 |  | Hollis B. Stephens (1932–) | 1 August 1977 | 1 August 1981 | 4 years, 0 days | |
| 4 |  | Carl W. Constantine (1938–) | 1 August 1981 | 1 May 1986 | 4 years, 273 days | |
| 5 |  | Allen Thiele (1940–2017) | 1 May 1986 | 29 June 1990 | 4 years, 59 days | |
| 6 |  | R. Jay Lloyd (?–) | 29 June 1990 | 1 July 1994 | 4 years, 2 days | |
| 7 |  | Eric A. Trent (1944–) | 1 July 1994 | 31 May 1998 | 3 years, 334 days | |
| 8 |  | Vincent W. Patton III (1954–) | 31 May 1998 | 10 October 2002 | 4 years, 132 days | |
| 9 |  | Frank A. Welch (1960–2026) | 10 October 2002 | 14 June 2006 | 3 years, 247 days | |
| 10 |  | Charles W. Bowen (?–) | 14 June 2006 | 21 May 2010 | 3 years, 341 days | |
| 11 |  | Michael P. Leavitt (1960–) | 21 May 2010 | 22 May 2014 | 4 years, 1 day | |
| 12 |  | Steven W. Cantrell (?–) | 22 May 2014 | 17 May 2018 | 3 years, 360 days | |
| 13 |  | Jason M. Vanderhaden (?–) | 17 May 2018 | 19 May 2022 | 4 years, 2 days | |
| 14 |  | Heath B. Jones (?–) | 19 May 2022 | 25 July 2025 | 3 years, 67 days | |
| 15 | | Phillip Waldron (?–) | 25 July 2025 | Incumbent | 1 year, 6 days | |
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