Galleries

2024-2011

2010-1991

1990-1971

1970-1951

COMO Mary Kirkwood 2024-2026

 

Commodore Kirkwood has been recognized with the Auxiliary Legion of Merit, Auxiliary Meritorious Service Award, Auxiliary Commendation Award, Auxiliary Achievement Award (3), Sustained Service Award (11), Auxiliary Public Education Service Award (5), Special Operations Service Ribbon (3), Auxiliary Membership Service Award (2), Auxiliary Operations Service Award (7), Auxiliary Operational Excellence Award, Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation (18), Coast Guard Unit Commendation, DHS Outstanding Unit Award, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Commodore Kirkwood currently holds certifications as Boat Crew, Instructor, AID to Navigation Verifier, Vessel Examiner, Fingerprint Technician, Telecommunications Operator, and AUXOP.

Commodore Kirkwood retired from nursing after a 40-year career in Critical Care and Nursing Management. She currently volunteers 2-3 days per week at the TRACEN Petaluma Medical Clinic, and monthly at the DIRAUX office of District 11N. In addition, she teaches First Aid, CPR/AED, Pediatric First Aid/CPR, the Police Officer's Safety Training (POST), Child and Babysitting course, and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

She is a Lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of America and won the prestigious "Thanks" award. Her hobbies include glass crafts (fused and stained glass), SCUBA diving, traveling, hiking, and birding, and holds dearly her time with friends and family.

 

  COMO Gus Formato - 2022-2024  

Commodore Gus Formato resides on the Delmarva Peninsula in Delaware. He served most recently as Vice National Commodore before assuming the office of National Commodore.

Commodore Formato has been recognized with the Auxiliary Legion of Merit, Auxiliary Meritorious Service Medal (2), Auxiliary Medal of Operational Merit, Auxiliary Commendation Medal (2), Auxiliary Achievement Medal, Auxiliary Commandant Letter of Commendation, Sustained Service Award with Silver Hourglass, Presidential Unit Citation, DHS Outstanding Unit Award, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation (2), Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation (15), Auxiliary Operations Service Award (8), Auxiliary Recruiting Service Award and RBS Device Award.

He earned his AUXOP certification and Boat Crew Coxswain certification in 2007, becoming a Qualification Examiner in 2010, and until recently served many years as the State Liaison Officer and Legislative Liaison Officer for the State of New Jersey.

Commodore Formato is on staff at the Essex County College Police Academy and has recently retired from a 38 year career in law enforcement. In addition, before his retirement, Commodore Formato served as a member of the New Jersey State PBA Critical Incident Stress Management Team and served with distinction at Ground Zero, Manhattan from September 12, 2001 to March 2002.

He is a member of B.P.O.E Elks Lodge # 2401 as well as the North Jersey Council of the United States Navy League.

When not serving with the Auxiliary, he enjoys reading military history, especially historical books about the Second World War. He’s also been known to binge watch his favorite TV series when time permits and is currently learning to play golf.

COMO Alex Malewski 2020 - 2022

Commodore Alex Malewski joined the US Coast Guard Auxiliary in 2000 and was elected to the position of National Commodore, starting in November 2020. Commodore Malewski previously served as Vice National Commodore and Deputy National Commodore Atlantic East and Operations.

He is qualified as a Coxswain, Aircraft Commander, Public Education Instructor, PATON Aids Verifier, AUXOP, Vessel Examiner, and Personal Water Craft Operator. He was the Coxswain of the first “All Aviator” team to win the District 1 SR Surface SAR competition. He has served as a Staff Officer in Member Training, Communications, and Finance and held various elected positions.

Commodore Malewski has been recognized with the Coast Guard Auxiliary Meritorious Service Medal (3 times), Coast Guard Auxiliary Award of Operational Merit, Coast Guard Auxiliary Operational Excellence “E” Ribbon, Auxiliary Commendation Award, CG Meritorious Team Commendation (7 times), CG Meritorious Unit Commendation (2 times), CG Unit Commendation (2 times), and a Presidential Unit Citation.

He attended the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass where he received a degree in Chemistry and Saint John’s University School of Law where he received a Juris Doctor. Commodore Malewski worked as an Assistant District Attorney in New York City and is now a partner in a small General Practice law firm in Brooklyn, New York.

Commodore Malewski lives in Seaford, New York with his wife Renee and has two daughters, Krystyna and Katherine.

COMO Larry L. King 2018 - 2020

Commodore Larry L. King previously served as Vice National Commodore. Prior to that he was Deputy National Commodore, Mission Support and Atlantic West region, overseeing the activities of six Auxiliary District Commodores in CG Districts eight and nine. He is a former District Commodore and District Captain in Coast Guard District Eight, Coastal Region.

He graduated from University of Rhode Island with a degree in Political Science with an emphasis in Constitutional Law. His graduate education is in International Relations from George Washington University and the US Navy War College. He completed a graduate level program in Environmental Science at the University of California.

Commodore King served in the US Navy both as an enlisted man and a Commissioned Officer. He completed Nuclear Power Operator training and served in both the Nuclear Submarine Force and on surface ships, specifically in the Cruiser/Destroyer Navy. He was a proven sub-specialist in Propulsion Engineering and Anti-Submarine Warfare. Commodore King served as a Commanding Officer both afloat and ashore. He attained the rank of Captain before retiring.

Commodore King worked in the private sector after leaving the Navy and was Director of Quality Engineering at Ingall’s Shipbuilding Corporation for seven years. He joined the Auxiliary in 2002 and has held a wide range of elected and appointed positions. He is a qualified Boat Coxswain and Qualifying Examiner. He is AUXOP qualified and has earned the Recreational Boating Specialty Device.

Commodore King and his wife Carole reside in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

PNACO Richard Washburn  2016 - 2018

Commodore Rick Washburn is currently serving as National Commodore for the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. He also serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and Chairman of the Board for the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Association. He previously served as Vice National Commodore from 2014 - 2016, Deputy National Commodore for the Atlantic West Area and Mission Support from 2012- 2014, and District Commodore for the Eighth District, Eastern Region from 2011 to 2012.

Commodore Washburn graduated from Stonehill College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He went on to Golden Gate University and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Justice Administration. 

Commodore Washburn joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in 2002. He has held a wide variety of positions in both elected and appointed staff positions from Flotilla to the National Bridge. He is a member of Flotilla 12-07 in the Tri-Cities Tennessee area.

Commodore Washburn served in the United States Air Force as a commissioned officer in the Security Police / Security Forces career field. He went on to serve with the United States Department of Justice as a Special Agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Commodore Washburn has owned and operated a small business for the past 20 years. 

Commodore Washburn maintains homes in Gray, Tennessee and Holiday, Florida. He has one son in Salt Lake City, Utah.

PNACO Mark Simoni  2014 - 2016

Commodore Mark Simoni is the 32nd National Commodore of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. He is originally from Saginaw, Michigan, and joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary there in 1991. He has served in a variety of positions, both elected and appointed: Division Chief - Surface in the Operations Department from 2000 through 2005; District Commodore of the Ninth Central Region; National Directorate Commodore - Operations; and as Assistant National Commodore, Operations Policy and Resource Management.

He recently completed a term as Deputy National Commodore - Operations and Atlantic Area-West. In this office he oversaw staff functions in the Directorates of Response, Prevention, Incident Management and Preparedness, and International Affairs. He also had supervisory responsibilities over the six Auxiliary Regions in D8 and D9. In 2013-2014 he served as Vice National Commodore.

Commodore Simoni attended the University of Michigan and Northwestern Michigan University. He owns an Audio/Video company in Saginaw MI, and resides in St. Charles, MI, with his wife Cheryl.

PNACO Thomas C. Mallison 2012-2014

Commodore Thomas C. Mallison is served as National Commodore from 2012 - 2014. He previously served as Vice National Commodore in 2011-2012, as Deputy National Commodore - Operations Policy and Atlantic Area West in 2009-2010, as District Commodore, Eighth District Eastern Region in 2007-08, as District Vice Commodore in 2005-06, and as District Rear Commodore West in 2003-04. He served as Department Chief of the National Department of Personnel in 2000-02.

He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Science. He graduated With Honors from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration.

Commodore Mallison joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in 1990. He has a wide variety of experiences in both elected and staff offices at all levels from flotilla to National. He is qualified as Boat Crew Coxswain, PATON Verifier, RBS Visitor, Vessel Examiner, Instructor, Telecommunications Operator and Qualification Examiner. He is also an AUXOP member.

He retired as Vice President and Director of Administration with Systran Corporation in Dayton, Ohio. During his business career, he served on the Boards of Directors of three manufacturing companies and a nonprofit corporation in the medical sector.

Commodore Mallison served in the U.S. Army both as a commissioned officer and as a non-commissioned officer, and retired with twenty years of service. Overseas tours included Germany, Korea and Vietnam. Commodore Mallison and his wife, Wanda, reside in Bear Lake, Michigan. 

PNACO Jim Vass 2010 - 2012

Commodore Vass began his career in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in 1991. Since that time he has served as a Vice Flotilla Commander, Flotilla Commander, Vice and Division Captain in Division 7 Eight District Coastal Region, Rear Commodore-West, Vice Commodore, District Commodore Eight Coastal Region Area Commodore Atlantic West and National Vice Commodore.

Commodore Vass is a 1964 graduate of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. He began his military career as an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers serving six and one-half years of active duty and retiring from the reserve program with 28+ years of total service. While serving on active duty, he served in Korea, Vietnam, Germany and the Virgin Islands. After leaving the Army, he joined the DuPont Company and retired after 29 years of service as a Senior Project Engineer. While working with DuPont he was stationed at 7 different sites responsible for major construction activity: Richmond Virginia, Augusta Georgia, Beaumont Texas, Dordrich the Netherlands, Parkersburg West Virginia, Ulsan Korea and Victoria Texas.

Commodore Vass is a qualified Instructor, Vessel Examiner, Coxswain and Qualification Examiner. He has been recognized with the following awards during his association with the Auxiliary: Medal of Operational Merit, Auxiliary Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Sustained Auxiliary Service Award, and the Coast Guard Unit Commendation.

Commodore Vass is a Professional Engineer in the State of Texas and a Board Member of the local Coastal Conservation Association.

Jim was born in Waynesboro, Virginia and is currently living in Port O'Connor, Texas. Jim enjoys working with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and making contacts with the public. Jim also enjoys the recreational aspects of the water as a fisherman and hunter.