COMMANDING OFFICER

Captain Matthew Rooney

Captain Rooney, a native of Wallingford, Connecticut, received his commission in the Coast Guard in 2001 after graduating from Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation and a Third Mate Unlimited Tonnage License. He reported to MIDGETT from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania where he studied National Security Policy, Military Strategy, and Defense Management. 
 
Captain Rooney’s previous afloat assignments include Commanding Officer of USCGC SENECA (WMEC 906) in Portsmouth Virginia where he conducted counter narcotics and fisheries enforcement operations in the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans. He also served as Executive Officer of USCGC VIGILANT (WMEC 617) in Port Canaveral Florida; Commanding Officer of USCGC KODIAK ISLAND (WPB 1341) Port Crew in Key West Florida; Commanding Officer of USCGC MAUI (WPB 1304) in the Kingdom of Bahrain; Executive Officer of USCGC ATTU (WPB 1317) in Key West Florida; Executive Officer of USCGC MONHEGAN (WPB 1305) in Key West Florida; and Deck Watch Officer aboard USCGC SPENCER (WMEC 905) in Boston, Massachusetts. 
 
Captain Rooney’s previous shore assignments include service as the Chief of the Policy and Standard Division (CG-1331) in the Office Military Personnel (CG-13) at Coast Guard Headquarters where he was responsible for the development, promulgation, and implementation of military human resource policies including accessions, advancement, evaluations, and separations for over 42,000 military members. Captain Rooney also served as a program reviewer in the Office of Budget and Programs (CG-821) where he was responsible for the formulation and defense of the Coast Guard’s annual $6 Billion Human Resources budget. Additionally, Captain Rooney was assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Major Cutter Forces staff where he served as the Major Cutter Scheduler, Area Patrol Boat Manager, and Major Cutter Budget Manager. 
 
Captain Rooney earned a Master of Public Administration from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania in 2013 and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2023. Captain Rooney is a permanent Cutterman. He was a member of teams that earned the Coast Guard Unit Commendation, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, Mertorious Team Commendation and various campaign awards.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Commander Donald (Scott) Stiker

CDR Donald “Scott” Stiker reported as the Executive Officer, CGC Midgett (WMSL 757), in May 2024. CDR Stiker is a career seagoing enlisted/officer Cutterman with over 20 years sea time, having served on nine cutters: Non-Rate on CGC Rush (WHEC 723), Electrician’s Mate on CGC Mallow (WLB 396), CGC White Sage (WLM 544) and CGC Staten Island (WPB 1345), Engineer Petty Officer on CGC James Rankin (WLM 555), Engineer Officer on CGC Sequoia (WLB 255), CGC Sherman (WHEC 720), and CGC Kimball (WMSL 756). In June 2023, CDR Stiker assumed the watch as the 17th Gold Ancient Mariner for the Coast Guard and June 2024 became the 83rd Master Cutterman.
 
His shore assignments include CG ANT Bristol, CG Atlantic Strike Team, Engineering Officer Group/Sector Lower Mississippi River, ISC/BSU/Base LA/LB, Sector San Juan and most recently the Program Managers’ Representative (PMR) at the Polar Security Cutter Project Resident Office (PRO).  He is a 2016 graduate from Argosy University with a B.S. in Organizational Leadership. CDR Stiker received his DHS Program Manager, Level IV, Certification in June 2022.
 

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COMMAND SENIOR ENLISTED LEADER (CSEL)  

MKC Christopher C. Chavez

Chief Petty Officer Christopher C. Chavez reported to USCGC MIDGETT (WMSL 757) in July of 2022 and is currently serving as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader (CSEL) and Chief Petty Officer of the Auxiliary Division. 
 
MKC Chavez is a Permanent Cutterman with 9 years of cumulative Sea Service and has completed tours of duty aboard ships in multiple cutter classes. His first tour was aboard the USCGC MATAGORDA (WPB 1303) out of Key West FL; a unique platform the 110’ WPB extended to 123’ with stern launch capabilities used to support migrant interdiction missions in District 07. Subsequently, he served aboard the USCGC SHERMAN (WHEC 720) out of Alameda CA, where much of his time was spent patrolling the Bering Sea and Central American region conducting search and rescue missions, combating illegal fishery activities, and conducting drug and migrant interdiction. Prior to his current assignment, MKC Chavez was also assigned to the USCGC KITTIWAKE, an 87’ patrol boat out of Honolulu, Hawaii, responsible for search and rescue, law enforcement and participated in two President of the United States security patrols. MKC Chavez’s ashore assignments include tours at MSST Honolulu, Naval Engineering Support Unit Honolulu, and standing up Base Honolulu’s Navel Engineering Department. 
 
MKC Chavez’s military decorations include: CG Cutterman Insignia, Four CG Achievement Medals, two CG Unit Commendation Ribbons, ten CG Meritorious Team Commendation Ribbons, four CG Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, five CG Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbons, three CG Special Operations Service Ribbon, CG Pistol sharp shooter Ribbon, CG Rifle marksman Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, three CG Sea Service Ribbons, six CG Good Conduct Medals, Armed Forces Service Medal, DHS Outstanding Unit award, and a CG Presidential Unit Citation.

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