COMMANDING OFFICER
Commander Gavin V. Garcia
Commander Gavin Garcia graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2004 with a degree in Business Management. His first tour was aboard USCGC DAUNTLESS (WMEC 624), homeported in Galveston, Texas. After DAUNTLESS, CDR Garcia assumed command of USCGC KINGFISHER (WPB 87322) homeported in Jacksonville, FL in May 2006. After a successful two-year tour as Commanding Officer he attended the National Defense Intelligence College located on Bolling AFB in Washington, DC.
CDR Garcia graduated with a Master’s Degree in Strategic Intelligence in July 2009 and was assigned to be the Sector Intelligence Chief at Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, FL. CDR Garcia spent three exciting years in this billet before departing to become the Operations Officer onboard USCGC SHERMAN (WHEC 720) homeported in San Diego, CA. CDR Garcia served onboard SHERMAN from April 2012 to July 2014 completing three high tempo JIATF-S patrols and one demanding Alaskan Patrol.
CDR Garcia then moved to Key West, FL where he led the Operational Testing & Evaluation division within the Innovation and Technology Directorate at Joint Interagency Task Force-South from July 2014 to July 2016. From July 2016 to June 2018 CDR Garcia served aboard USCGC DEPENDABLE (WMEC 626) as the Executive Officer. This tour was highlighted by the opportunity to conduct multi-mission patrols in both the CARIB and EASTPAC and required four complete transits of the Panama Canal. CDR Garcia assumes command of CGC THETIS (WMEC 910) after serving four years (2018-2022) at the USCG Seventh District in Miami, FL. Most recently serving as the Intelligence Chief after spending the previous three years as the Deputy Intelligence Chief.
CDR Garcia grew up in Lakeland, FL and is a 2000 graduate of the Naval Academy Preparatory School. He is married to the former Alicia Whittle also from Lakeland, FL and they have two children Gabrielle and Louden.