Captain Jessica S. Worst
Commander Coast Guard Sector Guam

 

U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam Commander Photo - Captain Jessica S. WorstCaptain Jessica Worst assumed command of U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam and U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Guam Zone in October 2024, placing her at the helm of the Service's largest and most remote sector, overseeing extensive operations across the western Blue Pacific.

Prior to this role, she served as chief of the Current Operations Division at U.S. Northern Command, leading 85 joint force personnel and directing operations and synchronizing operational component effects through extensive coordination with other combatant commands, interagency partners, and partner nations to meet shared goals.

Her more recent service includes tenure as the executive officer of USCGC Healy (WAGB 20), the nation’s largest icebreaker, which notably circumnavigated North America in 2021. Preceding this she was a federal executive fellow at the Brookings Institution, honing her strategic acumen.

Previous staff assignments include crafting significant portions of the Service’s annual budget request as a program reviewer and budget coordinator in the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Office of Budget and Programs. Her operational experience is extensive, with time on multiple cutters, including in Oceania as commanding officer of USCGC Sequoia (WLB 215) in Guam.

A native of Ledyard, Connecticut, she is a 2000 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, earning a bachelor’s degree in marine and environmental science. Her graduate education was at the University of Rhode Island achieving a master’s degree in oceanography in 2011.

Her dedication to service is reflected in her numerous awards, which include the Defense Superior Service Medal and Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (2), Coast Guard Commendation Medal (5), Coast Guard Achievement Medal (2), and a host of unit and team awards. She earned her Permanent Cutterman’s Insignia in 2008.

She is navigating her journey alongside her husband, Aaron Parker.

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Commander Patton J. Epperson
Deputy Sector Commander

 

Sector Guam Deputy Commander Photo - CDR Patton J EppersonCommander Epperson currently serves as Deputy Sector Commander of Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, an essential role overseeing the Service's largest and most remotely operated sector area of responsibility across 1.9 million square nautical miles. This jurisdiction includes the territory of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Previously, as Response Department Head from 2024 to 2025, he directly managed maritime law enforcement, security, and response activities. Previously, as Chief of Deployable Specialized Forces (DSF) for U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, Epperson led the strategic oversight and operational readiness of specialized Coast Guard units, ensuring mission success in counterterrorism, port security, and high-risk maritime operations. As chief of the DSF Training and Operations Branch at the Special Joint Missions Training Center (SMTC) at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, he spearheaded over 15,000 hours of advanced maritime training and re-instituted the Advanced Tactical Operations Course into the Coast Guard’s formal training system.

His distinguished career began at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, graduating in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in operations research and computer analysis. He later earned a master’s degree in homeland security from American Military University, enhancing his operations expertise. 

His notable assignments include serving as the officer-in-charge of the Coast Guard’s Ceremonial Honor Guard, leading 3,500 high-visibility ceremonies, including White House arrival ceremonies for heads of state and the retirement ceremony for Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in 2011. As a Direct-Action Team Leader at the prototype Maritime Security Response Team, he developed tactics, techniques, and procedures adopted service wide. While assigned to USCGC Bear (WMEC 901), he established the first-ever Force Protection Program for a major cutter deploying to U.S. Africa Command’s region. As Deputy Enforcement Chief at Sector Honolulu, he was a charter member of a joint DHS Task Force and coordinated maritime protection for then President Obama’s family during their annual visits to Hawaii.

Epperson’s military decorations include the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medals (5), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various personal and unit awards, reflecting his exceptional service and leadership.

Born and raised in the foothills of North Carolina, he now resides in Guam, with his wife, Rebecca, and their two daughters. He credits his family’s steadfast support as the cornerstone of his professional success.

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Master Chief Jeremy V. Thomas
Command Master Chief

 

Sector Guam Command Master Chief Photo - MCPO Jeremy ThomasMaster Chief Jeremy V. Thomas took up his role as Command Master Chief for U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam in July 2023.

In this pivotal position, he serves as the principal senior enlisted advisor to the Commander, providing vital counsel on workforce policies, mentoring enlisted personnel, and facilitating critical administrative actions and initiatives. He is crucial in overseeing the Service's largest and most remote sector area of responsibility.

Hailing from Ontario, California, Master Chief Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1997. Over his distinguished career, he has demonstrated versatility and leadership in various roles beyond his primary specialization as a Marine Science Technician.

His diverse service record includes assignments at multiple sectors and marine safety units, leading response teams at the Pacific Strike Team in Novato, California, guiding operations at Maritime Safety and Security Team Los Angeles/Long Beach (91103), and overseeing critical response coordination at the National Response Center and Coast Guard Command Center in Washington, D.C. These roles have seen him engage in multifaceted law enforcement missions, respond to global emergencies, manage nationwide pollution incidents, and refine a leadership style marked by adaptability and foresight.
 
The Service recognizes Master Chief Thomas's dedication and excellence through numerous accolades, including eight U.S. Coast Guard Commendation Medals with operational distinguishing devices and three U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medals. He is also a recipient of the Spirit of the Chief Award from the 2015 Chief Petty Officers Academy, honoring his embodiment of collaborative leadership, and the Alexander Palmer Haley Academic Excellence Award from the 2022 Command Senior Enlisted Leadership Course.

Beyond his professional achievements, Master Chief Thomas anchors his personal life on his family. He and his wife, Mandy, are proud parents to Hailey, Hannah, Amelia, and Grayson. The family celebrated their daughter Hannah's recent enlistment in the U.S. Coast Guard, continuing a legacy of dedicated service.

Master Chief Thomas's career is characterized by his professional accomplishments and commitment to leadership, mentorship, and family values, making him a respected and integral part of the U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam.
 

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