Frank A . Welch Franklin A . Welch ( born c . 1959 ) was the ninth Master Chief Petty Officer of the United States Coast Guard . A former Master Chief Quartermaster , he served in office from October 10 , 2002 to June 14 , 2006 , and served in the Coast Guard for over 25 years . Welch , a native of Texas , is married to Mari Lynn Perry of Newport , Rhode Island . They live in Arlington , Virginia . Biography . On October 10 , 2002 , Welch assumed his duties as the ninth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard . In his most recent assignment , Welch served as Officer - in - Charge of , homeported at Station Bodega Bay , California . His first operational tasking aboard " Sockeye " was to command her through an initial homeport transit of from New Orleans , Louisiana , to her homeport of Bodega Bay . Prior to this assignment , Welch served as Officer - in - Charge , , also homeported in Bodega Bay . Advancing quickly , Welch served in the Coast Guard for 26 years ; thirteen of which were as a Master Chief Petty Officer . He has a diverse background in Coast Guard operations . He has served aboard in Cordova , Alaska , where he devoted his off - duty time striking the Quartermaster rating ; Aids to Navigation Team Bristol , Rhode Island , as operations and aids to navigation petty officer ; as assistant navigator and deck watch officer ; as assistant navigator and deck watch officer ; Fleet Training Unit , U . S . Atlantic Fleet as an underway navigation and visual communications instructor and training liaison officer ; and aboard , homeported in Apra Harbor , Guam , as executive petty officer . Welch also served as “ Gold Badge ” Command Master Chief for the Ninth Coast Guard District , Cleveland , Ohio , where he represented the enlisted men and women of the “ Great Lakes , ” and as Master Chief of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy in Petaluma , California . Welch was designated as a Master Training Specialist by Commander , Training Command , U . S . Atlantic Fleet where he also received the Coast Guardsman of the Year Award for 1991 . In August 2002 , he received the Northern California Senior Enlisted Person of the Year ( Operational ) award sponsored by the United States Navy League . Welch attended many specialized training courses during his career , including the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy , where he was the president of Class XXVI . Welch has earned the permanent Cutterman Insignia , Coxswain , Command Master Chief , Chief Petty Officer Academy , and Officer in Charge Afloat pins . His military awards include three Meritorious Service Medal s with “ O ” device , two Coast Guard Commendation Medal s with “ O ” device , the Navy Commendation Medal , the Transportation 9 - 11 Medal , the Coast Guard Achievement Medal with “ O ” device , the Commandant ’ s Letter of Commendation Ribbon with “ O ” device , two Coast Guard Unit Commendation s with “ O ” device , five Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation s with “ O ” device , four Meritorious Team Commendation ribbons , the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation , the Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation ribbon , seven Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal s , two National Defense Service Medal s , the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal , the Humanitarian Service Medal , three Special Operations Service Ribbon s , five Coast Guard Sea Service ribbons , and the Coast Guard Rifle and Pistol Marksmanship ribbons . Retirement . Master Chief Charles ( Skip ) W . Bowen assumed the duties as the tenth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard on June 14 , 2006 , in a ceremony held at the USCG Telecommunications and Information Systems Command ( TISCOM ) .