Frank A. Welch
Encyclopedia
Franklin A. Welch was the ninth Master Chief Petty Officer
of the United States Coast Guard
. A former Master Chief Quartermaster, he served in office from October 10, 2002 to June 14, 2006, and served in the Coast Guard for over 25 years.
Welch, a native of Texas
, is married to Mari Lynn Perry of Newport, Rhode Island
. They live in Arlington, Virginia.
of the Coast Guard
. In his most recent assignment, Welch served as Officer in Charge of USCGC
SOCKEYE (WPB 87337), homeported in Bodega Bay, California
. His first operational tasking aboard SOCKEYE was to command her through an initial homeport transit of 6000 nautical miles (11,112 km) from New Orleans, Louisiana
, to her homeport of Bodega Bay. Prior to this assignment, Welch served as Officer in Charge, USCGC Point Chico (WPB 82339), also homeported in Bodega Bay.
Advancing quickly, Welch served in the Coast Guard for 26 years; thirteen of which were as a Master Chief Petty Officer. He has a diverse background in Coast Guard operations. He has served aboard USCGC SWEETBRIER in Cordova, Alaska
, where he devoted his off-duty time striking the Quartermaster rating; Aids to Navigation Team Bristol, Rhode Island
, as operations and aids to navigation petty officer; USCGC HARRIET LANE
as assistant navigator and deck watch officer; USCGC VIGOROUS
as assistant navigator and deck watch officer; Fleet Training Unit, U.S. Atlantic Fleet as an underway navigation and visual communications instructor
and training liaison officer; and aboard USCGC GALVESTON ISLAND, homeported in Apra Harbor, Guam, as executive petty officer. Welch also served as “Gold Badge” Command Master Chief for the Ninth Coast Guard District, Cleveland, Ohio
, where he represented the enlisted men and women of the “Great Lakes
,” and as Master Chief of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy in Petaluma, California
. Welch was designated as a Master Training Specialist by Commander, Training Command, U.S. Atlantic Fleet where he also received the Coast Guardsman of the Year Award for 1991. In August 2002, he received the Northern California Senior Enlisted Person of the Year (Operational) award sponsored by the United States Navy League.
Welch attended many specialized training courses during his career, including the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy, where he was the president of Class XXVI.
Welch has earned the permanent Cutterman Insignia, Coxswain, Command Master Chief, Chief Petty Officer Academy, and Officer in Charge Afloat pins. His military awards include three Meritorious Service Medals with “O” device, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals with “O” device, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Transportation 9-11 Medal, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal with “O” device, the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon with “O” device, two Coast Guard Unit Commendations with “O” device, five Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations with “O” device, four Meritorious Team Commendation ribbons, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation ribbon, seven Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medal
s, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
, the Humanitarian Service Medal
, three Special Operations Service Ribbon
s, five Coast Guard Sea Service ribbons, and the Coast Guard Rifle and Pistol Marksmanship ribbons.
assumed the duties as the tenth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard on June 14, 2006, in a ceremony held at the USCG Telecommunications and Information Systems Command (TISCOM).
Master Chief Petty Officer
- Master Chief Petty Officer :U.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar deviceU.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerinsigniaGood conductRating badgeMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar Insignia...
of the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. A former Master Chief Quartermaster, he served in office from October 10, 2002 to June 14, 2006, and served in the Coast Guard for over 25 years.
Welch, a native of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, is married to Mari Lynn Perry of Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
. They live in Arlington, Virginia.
Biography
On October 10, 2002, Welch assumed his duties as the ninth Master Chief Petty OfficerMaster Chief Petty Officer
- Master Chief Petty Officer :U.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar deviceU.S. Coast GuardMaster ChiefPetty OfficerinsigniaGood conductRating badgeMaster ChiefPetty OfficerCap & Collar Insignia...
of the Coast Guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
. In his most recent assignment, Welch served as Officer in Charge of USCGC
United States Coast Guard Cutter
Cutter is the term used by the United States Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels. A Cutter is or greater in length, has a permanently assigned crew, and has accommodations for the crew to live aboard...
SOCKEYE (WPB 87337), homeported in Bodega Bay, California
Bodega Bay, California
Bodega Bay is a town and census-designated place in Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 1,077 at the 2010 census. The town is on the eastern side of Bodega Harbor, an inlet of Bodega Bay on the Pacific coast....
. His first operational tasking aboard SOCKEYE was to command her through an initial homeport transit of 6000 nautical miles (11,112 km) from New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, to her homeport of Bodega Bay. Prior to this assignment, Welch served as Officer in Charge, USCGC Point Chico (WPB 82339), also homeported in Bodega Bay.
Advancing quickly, Welch served in the Coast Guard for 26 years; thirteen of which were as a Master Chief Petty Officer. He has a diverse background in Coast Guard operations. He has served aboard USCGC SWEETBRIER in Cordova, Alaska
Cordova, Alaska
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,454 people, 958 households, and 597 families residing in the city. The population density was 40.0 per square mile . There are 1,099 housing units at an average density of 17.9 per square mile...
, where he devoted his off-duty time striking the Quartermaster rating; Aids to Navigation Team Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol is a town in and the historic county seat of Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,954 at the 2010 census. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol, England....
, as operations and aids to navigation petty officer; USCGC HARRIET LANE
USCGC Harriet Lane (WMEC-903)
USCGC Harriet Lane is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter. Named for Harriet Lane, niece and official hostess of President James Buchanan...
as assistant navigator and deck watch officer; USCGC VIGOROUS
USCGC Vigorous (WMEC-627)
USCGC Vigorous is a United States Coast Guard Reliance Class medium endurance cutter. Her keel was laid down by American Ship Building Company, Lorain, Ohio 10 November 1962 and she was launched 04 May 1968. Vigorous was commissioned 02 May 1969 and her current homeport is Cape May, New Jersey...
as assistant navigator and deck watch officer; Fleet Training Unit, U.S. Atlantic Fleet as an underway navigation and visual communications instructor
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and training liaison officer; and aboard USCGC GALVESTON ISLAND, homeported in Apra Harbor, Guam, as executive petty officer. Welch also served as “Gold Badge” Command Master Chief for the Ninth Coast Guard District, Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, where he represented the enlisted men and women of the “Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
,” and as Master Chief of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy in Petaluma, California
Petaluma, California
Petaluma is a city in Sonoma County, California, in the United States. In the 2010 Census the population was 57,941.Located in Petaluma is the Rancho Petaluma Adobe, a National Historic Landmark. It was built beginning in 1836 by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, then Commandant of the San...
. Welch was designated as a Master Training Specialist by Commander, Training Command, U.S. Atlantic Fleet where he also received the Coast Guardsman of the Year Award for 1991. In August 2002, he received the Northern California Senior Enlisted Person of the Year (Operational) award sponsored by the United States Navy League.
Welch attended many specialized training courses during his career, including the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy, where he was the president of Class XXVI.
Welch has earned the permanent Cutterman Insignia, Coxswain, Command Master Chief, Chief Petty Officer Academy, and Officer in Charge Afloat pins. His military awards include three Meritorious Service Medals with “O” device, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals with “O” device, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Transportation 9-11 Medal, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal with “O” device, the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon with “O” device, two Coast Guard Unit Commendations with “O” device, five Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations with “O” device, four Meritorious Team Commendation ribbons, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation ribbon, seven Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
s, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13289 of President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003...
, the Humanitarian Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
The Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under...
, three Special Operations Service Ribbon
Special Operations Service Ribbon
The Special Operations Service Ribbon is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which was first created in July 1987 by order of Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Paul A. Yost Jr. The decoration is authorized for certain acts of non-combat meritorious service, performed in the service...
s, five Coast Guard Sea Service ribbons, and the Coast Guard Rifle and Pistol Marksmanship ribbons.
Retirement
Master Chief Charles (Skip) W. BowenCharles (Skip) W. Bowen
Charles "Skip" W. Bowen was the tenth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard . He assumed the position from MCPOCG Frank A. Welch on June 14, 2006, and was relieved on May 21, 2010 by Michael P. Leavitt...
assumed the duties as the tenth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard on June 14, 2006, in a ceremony held at the USCG Telecommunications and Information Systems Command (TISCOM).