COMMANDING OFFICER: Commander Brian J. Tesson

Commander Tesson became the twenty-ninth Commanding Officer of USCGC ACTIVE on 24 May 2021.

Born in Memphis, TN and raised in Seminole, FL, Commander Tesson graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2000. Balancing a career between the afloat and civil engineering communities, he has developed a well-rounded skill set focused in the areas of shipboard operations, engineering and logistics.

A cutterman with over nine years of sea service aboard eleven Coast Guard cutters, Commander Tesson began his career in 2000, serving as the Damage Control Assistant aboard USCGC DECISIVE in Pascagoula, MS.  He has since served in three afloat command cadre positions including Executive Officer of USCGC BLOCK ISLAND in Atlantic Beach, NC, Commanding Officer of USCGC BARANOF in Manama, Bahrain, and Commanding Officer of USCGC LIBERTY in Juneau, AK. His most recent afloat assignment was as Operations Officer on USCGC JAMES in Charleston, SC. 

At sea, Commander Tesson has executed a wide variety of missions including Counter-Drug operations, Migrant Interdiction operations, Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security operations, Fisheries Enforcement, and Search and Rescue. He has twice deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, operating 110-foot Island Class patrol boats in support of U.S. Navy Central Command task groups in both the Mediterranean Sea and Northern Arabian Gulf theatres.  

Between sea duty, Commander Tesson planned, built and maintained shore infrastructure while serving in the Coast Guard’s Civil Engineering program.  After earning a Master’s Degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Virginia Tech in 2005, he was assigned to the Facilities Design and Construction Center in Seattle, WA as a Construction Manager.  From 2011 to 2015 he served as the Base Seattle Facility Engineer, and most recently as the Executive Officer of Civil Engineering Unit Oakland.

Commander Tesson’s military awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, five Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the Coast Guard Achievement medal and other personal, team and unit awards. He holds a Master 1600-Ton Merchant Mariner Credential and a Project Management Professional Certification. 

Commander Tesson is married to Mrs. Kelly Gault of Gettysburg, PA.