Command Master Chief Travis W. Cutler assumed the duties of Command Master Chief for the U.S. Coast Guard Southwest District in June 2026. In this role, he serves as the principal advisor to the Southwest District Commander on all workforce matters affecting personnel assigned throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and the coastal and offshore waters extending from Mexico and Central America to South America. He supports the Commander’s strategic intent, enhances communication across all levels of the organization, and strengthens the effectiveness of the chain of command.
A native of Lake Tahoe, Nevada, CMC Cutler enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in April 2004. Prior to his current role, he served as the Command Master Chief for Joint Interagency Task Force–West (JIATF–W), the supported command for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Department of War support to law enforcement for Counter-Drug and related Counter Transnational Organized Crime activities.
CMC Cutler’s previous assignments include serving as the Command Master Chief for Sector San Francisco, California; participating as a student fellow with the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (Class 71) at Fort Bliss, Texas; Leading Chief Petty Officer of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Texas; MH-65 Division Standardization Team | Aviation Engineering Maintenance Chief at Aviation Training Center Mobile, Alabama; Avionics Division, Air Station Houston, Texas; Air Station Borinquen, Puerto Rico; Air Station Sacramento, California; and aboard USCGC Chase (WHEC-718). He also served with Port Security Unit 311 while assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.
CMC Cutler holds a Master of Management with a concentration in Human Resources from Excelsior University, a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Columbia Southern University, and an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice from Grantham University. He recently represented the U.S. Armed Forces as the inaugural attendee of the Joint Warrant Officers Course at the Australian War College in Canberra, Australia. He is a graduate of the Keystone Joint Operations Module (2024-1), the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (Class 71, honors), the Chief Petty Officers Academy (Class CCXV), and the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies Transnational Security Cooperation Course (25-1).
His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal; two Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medals with the Operational Distinguishing Device; three Coast Guard Commendation Medals; three Coast Guard Achievement Medals; two Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbons; and two LT Robert A. Perchard Trophy Awards. In 2013, he was recognized as the Coast Guard’s Enlisted Person of the Year. He has earned permanent aircrew insignia and numerous other personal and service awards.