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. His personal awards include three Meritorious Service Medals, six Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, and numerous unit and service awards. 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Commander Brian Gismervik

Commander Brian Gismervik is the Executive Officer of USCGC MIDGETT (WMSL-757) homeported in Honolulu, Hawaii. His previous afloat assignments include Executive Officer of USCGC CAMPBELL (WMEC-909) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Assistant Operations Officer of USCGC WAESCHE (WMSL-751) in Alameda, California, and Deck Watch Officer on board USCGC OAK (WLB-211) in Charleston, South Carolina. Commander Gismervik most recently served as the Policy and Competency Division Chief for the Office of Cutter Forces at USCG Headquarters. His other shore assignments include chemistry instructor at the Coast Guard Academy. Commander Gismervik earned his commission and a Bachelor of Science in Marine and Environmental Science from the U. S. Coast Guard Academy in 2006 as well as a Master’s Degree in Chemistry from the University of Connecticut in 2012. He has earned several awards including the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, and a Coast Guard Achievement Medal. Commander Gismervik is a native of Long Island, New York.

COMMAND SENIOR CHIEF 

MKCS Mark Perez

Senior Chief Mark A. Perez reported to United States Coast Guard Cutter Midgett July of 2023 as the Main Propulsion Division Chief. 

Senior Chief Perez is originally from Anthony, New Mexico, which is approximately 20 miles north of El Paso, Texas. He was born to Renee Perez and has one older brother, Michael Perez. He made the decision to join the United States Coast Guard in 2005 at the age of 20. Shortly after boot camp, Senior Chief Perez attended MK A-School and was assigned to the Sector Honolulu Engineering Department from 2005 to 2009. During his time there, he advanced to E-5 and transferred to USCGC Douglas Munro in Kodiak, Alaska, where he served from 2009 to 2012. After sailing the dangerous waters of the Bering Sea for three years, he then transferred to USCGC Petrel in San Diego, California, from 2012 to 2014. There he served as a boarding officer and assisted in numerous drug busts. He also achieved the rank of E-6 and eventually took over as the EPO. From 2014 to 2018, Senior Chief Perez was stationed at ATO Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida, where he performed numerous cutter inspections and provided training to the Atlantic area fleet. At that time, Senior Chief Perez decided to try his luck in the searing heat of the Middle East from November 2018 to November 2019, as a Cutter boat manager for PATFORSAW in Manama, Bahrain. He provided support for 110s in Muscat, Oman, also Camp Patriot on Kuwait Naval Base, and Dubai Naval Station. From there, he went on to ATO San Diego from January 2019 to June 2020, and it was during this time that he advanced to E-7 and reported to the CGC Valiant. Three years later, he advanced to E-8 and reported to the CGC Midgett..

Senior Chief Perez received numerous awards, including: seven Achievement Medals, two Unit Commendation Awards, two Meritorious Unit Commendation Awards, three Meritorious Team Commendation Awards, two Letter of Commendation Awards, four Good Conduct Medals, a Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, a Humanitarian Service Medal, a Restricted Duty Ribbon, a Special Ops Service Ribbon, and, of course, a Sea Service Ribbon. Senior Chief Perez will complete 13 years of Sea Time at the end of April 2024.

Work has always been an important aspect of Senior Chief Perez’s life, but family is the most important; without them, he would not be where he is today.