USCG STATION OAK ISLAND
COMMAND BIOGRAPHIES
Officer in Charge: BMCS John A. Sesta
BMCS John A. Sesta is a 26 year veteran of the Coast Guard. His first assignment was to the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut in 1981 followed by the USCGC Gallatin (WHEC-721). In 1985 BM3Sesta reported to his first of seven small boat Stations at St. Clair Shores Michigan. Later BM2 Sesta took orders to Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light, New Jersey. In the early 1990’s BM1 Sesta reported as the Executive Petty Officer aboard the 82 foot CGC Point Turner Coastal Patrol Boat in Newport Rhode Island. In 1993 BM1Sesta was assigned the XPO position USCG Station Montauk, New York. He was the Supervisor of Coast Guard Station Beach Haven and then reported to Coast Guard Station Ft. Macon upon his promotion to Chief Petty Officer in 1998.
Senior Chief Sesta became the Officer in Charge of Coast Guard Station Brunswick Georgia in September of 2001 and then Station Wrightsville Beach in 2005. He assumed control of Station Oak Island in August 2007.
Senior Chief’s accolades include being nominated for the Munro Award twice and is a four time recipient of the Kimball Award. His awards include two Special Operations Service Ribbons, three Letters of Commendation Ribbons from the Commandant, five Meritorious Unit Commendations, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and two Coast Guard Commendation Medals.
Executive Petty Officer: BMC Robin N. Kirby
Chief Robin Kirby assumed the duties as Executive Petty officer of Station Oak Island in April 2006. She attended recruit training in Cape May, New Jersey in 1993. Her first duty assignment was to Coast Guard Cutter Madrona in Charleston South Carolina until July 1995. From there she was transferred to Station Curtis Bay in Baltimore Maryland until June 1996 where she advanced to Boatswain Mate 3rd class. She has also served at Station Curtis Bay and Station Cape May. Upon advancing to Boatswain Mate 1st class she was assigned to Station New York in June of 2000 and in June of 2004 she was transferred to the Cutter Monomoy as well as the Cutter Tybee.
BMC Kirby’s personal awards include one 9/11 medal, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals with “O” device, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals with “O” device, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation with “O” device, two Unit Commendation Medal with “O” device, Meritorious Unit Commendation with “O” device, two Meritorious Team Commendation with “O” device, four Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals, Coast Guard Sea Service, two Humanitarian Service Medals, CG Special Ops Service Ribbon, two DOT Outstanding Unit Award, two National Defense Service Medal, Coast Guard Pistol Ribbon, Global War Terror Service Medal and Coast Guard “E” Ribbon.
Engineer Petty Officer: MK1 Kurt T. Yockel
MK1 Kurt Yockel was assigned as Engineering Petty Officer of Station Oak Island on 01 June 2007.
MK1 Yockel enlisted in the coast Guard in 1998 and was assigned as a Fireman to Station Rochester New York where he qualified as a 44’ MLB engineer. Later that year he attended MK-A school and upon graduating was assigned to USCGC Ironwood (WLB-297) in Kodiak Alaska. Petty Officer Yockel decommissioned the Ironwood in Feb 2000 and commissioned the new USCGC Spar (WLB-206). Once assigned to the USCGC Spar Petty Officer Yockel advanced to MK2. While there he attained his Caterpillar 3500B master mechanic license. In June of 2001 he then transferred to TACLET South in Miami FL. He advanced to MK1 in January of 2006. In June of 2006 MK1 Yockel reported to USCG Station Oak Island as the Assistant Engineering Petty Officer. One year later in 2007 he assumed the duties of the Engineering Petty Officer.
MK1 Yockel Personal awards include the Global war on Terror Service Medal, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, Coast Guard Merit Unit Commendation, three Merit Team Coast Guard, Commandant letter of Commendation, two National Defense Service Medal, Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon, Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation, Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon, Two Good Conduct Medal’s.
Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF)
MS Word