COMMAND
COMMANDING OFFICER
Captain Brian C. Krautler
CAPT Brian C. Krautler most recently served as Chief, Personnel Division for Coast Guard Pacific Area. This division provides personnel and administrative support to the units and people who serve under the Pacific Area Commander, including 13,000 active duty, reserve, civilian and auxiliary personnel.
A Permanent Cutterman with over 12 years of sea service, CAPT Krautler’s most recent afloat tour was aboard USCGC MUNRO, where he served as Executive Officer. Previous afloat tours include service aboard the Coast Guard Cutters BASSWOOD, SASSAFRAS, WALNUT and BRISTOL BAY (with Aids to Navigation Barge 12001). In addition, he served as Commanding Officer of Cutters KATMAI BAY, in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan and HICKORY, in Homer, Alaska.
CAPT Krautler previously served as Executive Officer of Training Center Cape May, the Coast Guard’s sole accession point for enlisted personnel. Other shore tours included: a training tour to qualify as a Coast Guard Diver at the US Naval Dive and Salvage Training Center, Officer in Charge of MSST 91103 DET1, one of the Coast Guard’s first deployable domestic security detachments, and Assistant Professor of English and Head Coach of the Men’s Lacrosse Team at the US Coast Guard Academy.
CAPT Krautler earned a Bachelor of Science Degree, with High Honors, from the US Coast Guard Academy. He also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Humanities (Literature) from California State University, a Master of Arts Degree in English from the University of Massachusetts and has completed the Air Command and Staff College Distance Learning Program through the US Air Force Air University. CAPT Krautler is a USCG Master Training Specialist as well as a licensed professional mariner, holding a USCG Master’s License for motor vessels up to 1600 Gross Registered Tons in both Ocean and Near Coastal routes.
CAPT Krautler’s military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal and other unit and service awards that represent the extraordinary efforts of the crews he has been fortunate to serve with.
CAPT Krautler is married to Andrea Ramsay Krautler. The Krautlers have two children: Kate and James.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Commander Jonathan M. Wolstenholme
Commander Wolstenholme relieved as Executive Officer of CGC STRATTON in July 2024. He currently leads the crew of 26 officers and 116 enlisted in the execution of Coast Guard maritime missions throughout the Pacific Ocean including Search and Rescue, Fisheries Enforcement, Defense Readiness and National Security. In this capacity, he is responsible for organization, administration, good order & discipline, morale, financial management, training and readiness of the 418 foot cutter while protecting United States Maritime Transportation System.
Commander Wolstenholme, a native of Bourne, MA, graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and from University of Florida in 2014 with a Masters of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering.
Commander Wolstenholme has served eight years afloat assigned as Deck Watch Officer on USCGC SPENCER (WMEC 905) homeported in Boston, MA, Executive Officer aboard USCGC KEY BISCAYNE (WPB 1339) based in Key West, FL, Operations Officer of USCGC STEADFAST (WMEC 623) homeported in Astoria, OR, and most recently Commanding Officer of USCGC RAYMOND EVANS (WPC 1110) in Key West, FL. During his career he has conducted maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, illegal immigration interdiction, and counter-narcotic operations throughout the Caribbean Sea, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
While not at sea, CDR Wolstenholme has served in the Civil Engineering community as the Facility Engineer at Base Elizabeth City, North Carolina and Air Station Clearwater, Florida ensuring the operations and maintenance of two of the Coast Guard’s largest air stations including the aviation fleet maintenance facility, enlisted aviation training center, and two remote aviation deployment sites in the Bahamas. Additionally, he served as the Chief of Construction and most recently the Executive Officer at Civil Engineering Unit Providence managing approximately $30M in major maintenance and repair to shore infrastructure throughout New England.
Commander Wolstenholme maintains a Civil Engineering Professional Engineer (PE) license in the state of Florida. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Achievement Medals, two Humanitarian Service Medals, an Armed Forces Service Medal, the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation ribbon, three Coast Guard Sea Service ribbons as well as various unit, team, and service awards and a permanent Coast Guard cutterman insignia.
Commander Wolstenholme resides in Alameda, California with his wife, Melissa, and son, Jackson.
COMMAND SENIOR ENLISTED LEADER
ETC John Vargas
Chief Petty Officer Vargas is from Virginia Beach, VA. He assumed the duties of Command Senior Enlisted Leader on USCGC Stratton summer of 2024. CPO Vargas enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in January 2009. His previous units include USCGC Boutwell homeported in Alameda, CA, Electronics Technician “A” School in Petaluma, CA, Electronics Systems Support Detachment Charleston, SC, Training Center Yorktown - MK-92 FCS School, USCGC Northland (MK92 Technician) homeported in Portsmouth, VA, Electronics Systems Support Detachment Corpus Christi, TX, Electronics Systems Support Detachment Kodiak, AK and Close In Weapon System School at Naval Base San Diego, CA.
CPO Vargas is a Permanent Cutterman. In his career, he has earned two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, three Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbons, one Coast Guard Unit Commendation, one Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, one Artic Service Medal, one Armed Forces Service Medal, two Humanitarian Service Medals, and six Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendations. Some of his qualifications earned include Boarding Team member, Helicopter Tie Down, Non-Compliant Vessel Pursuit Crew Member, MTR/2M Technician, and CIWS Operator. CPO Vargas completed Chiefs Call to Initiation Fall of 2023 and is a graduate of Chief Petty Officer Academy Class CCCV.
CPO Vargas is engaged to the love of his life, Jackie Fritze, and together they raise their two children, Johnny and Penelope.