Thomas Cullen

Serves as the principal deputy and advisor to the Sector Commander and as his alternate in performing a wide-range of federal authorizations in the huge San Francisco Bay region including Captain of the Port, Federal Maritime Security Coordinator, Federal On-Scene Coordinator (for maritime oil spills and chemical releases), Officer-in-Charge of Maritime Inspections, and Search & Rescue Mission Coordinator.

Sector San Francisco is the largest & busiest operational command in the Coast Guard’s Pacific Area: executes of maritime safety, security, and emergency responses missions over huge, geographically-diverse, environmentally-sensitive area of responsibility stretching from the California/Oregon border to San Simeon, the inland shorelines and levees of the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento & San Joaquin River Deltas, Lake Tahoe, and all federal waterways in Utah, Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming’s Flaming Gorge National Reservation Area.Sector San Francisco’s 775 active duty, reserve & civilian personnel, 7 small-boat stations, 28 small boats, 4 coastal patrol boats, Vessel Traffic Service, and 1500 Auxiliary members protect a militarily/environmentally strategic multi-port complex with the U.S.'s 4th largest container port, 9 other commercial ports, and 6 major refineries.Sector San Francisco stands ready to defend the region’s ports, ensure the mobility of vessels and smooth flow of commerce, protect natural resources, enforce laws, and provide for the safety and rescue of mariners.

As Response Program Manager, directed a staff of 68 that developed and implemented policy to maintain and improve Eleventh CG District operating facilities, including Sector San Francisco, Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach, Sector San Diego, Group Humboldt Bay, 5 Air Stations (18 aircraft), 13 Small Boat Stations (59 boats), and 13 cutters.Oversaw a $2M annual budget.

Provided oversight of the multi-mission Pacific Area/Eleventh District Command Center responsible for Search & Rescue, Law Enforcement (particularly counter-narcotics smuggling), Environmental Protection, and Homeland Security operations in a 74-milion square nautical mile area of responsibility.

Provided direct oversight of 14,711 search and rescue cases that saved 1,971 lives and assisted 16,328 more.

As Guardians of the Gateway to the Pacific, the Eleventh Coast Guard District serves, protects and defends the American Public, maritime transportation system, and marine environment for the states of California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, the coastal and offshore waters out over thousand miles and the offshore waters of Mexico and Central America down to South America.  Coast Guard operational units are located throughout the state of California, with the District and Pacific Area headquarters located on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California.Since September 11, 2001, the Coast Guard has assumed a dynamic role in protecting the District’s major ports, which include six Tier one ports: San Diego, Los Angeles, Long Beach, and San Francisco, Oakland, and Richmond.