- Our Missions
- Command
- Departments
- News and Information
- Photo Gallery
- The Shade Tree
- Welcome Aboard!
- Contact OAK
- Contact Webmaster
Security Levels
CGC OAK (WLB-211)
Meet the Command
Command Biographies
Commanding Officer
Lieutenant Commander Peter Niles, his military service began as a Military Policeman in the U.S. Army from 1984 to 1986; where he then enlisted in the Coast Guard. LCDR Niles rose through the enlisted ranks from Seaman to Quartermaster First Class and then attended Officer Candidate School in 1996. LCDR Niles is a permanent Cutterman with over 13 years of sea service and has served proudly aboard eight cutters. He has previously commanded two ships, the patrol boat ALBACORE, and buoy tender GEORGE COBB. His other afloat tours include the cutters MORRO BAY, GENTIAN, IRIS, COWSLIP, SWEETGUM, and EAGLE. Previous shore assignments include tours at Coast Guard Group Boston, the Seventh District Command Center in Miami, FL and as the school chief for the USCG Chief Warrant Officer Development Program at the USCG Leadership Development Center. Awards and Decorations earned include the Silver Lifesaving Medal, Four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, Two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Two Commandant's Letter of Commendations, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and numerous unit and team awards. LCDR Niles is originally from Fayetteville, NC. He is married to recently retired Coast Guard LCDR Katherine Niles. They have two children, Gabe and Cooper.
Executive Officer
Lieutenant Luke Slivinski, LT Luke Slivinski, raised in Mt. Laurel, NJ, is a 2003 graduate of the U. S. Coast Guard Academy. He served as a Deck Watch Officer and First Lieutenant aboard CGC RESOLUTE, home ported in St. Petersburg, FL, from June 2003 to February 2005. He next served as Commanding Officer of the 87’ Patrol Boat CGC BLUE SHARK, home ported in Everett, WA, from March 2005 to August 2007. He was then assigned to the Coast Guard’s Fifth District Office of Enforcement from September 2007 to June 2011 where he served as the District’s Patrol Boat and Harbor Tug Program Manager.
LT Slivinski is married to the former Alaina Bloyd of Tallahassee, FL. They have one Son, Eli.
.
Operations Officer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Shea Winterberger, LTJG Shea Winterberger is a native of Anchorage, AK. She graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 2009, where she received a Commission and earned a Bachelors Degree in Marine and Environmental Sciences, focusing on chemistry and physical oceanography. Previous to CGC OAK, LTJG Winterberger served as a Deck Watch Officer aboard CGC ASPEN, home ported in San Francisco, CA.
Engineer Officer
Chief Warrant Officer (ENG3) Ray Bryant Chief Warrant Officer (ENG3) Ray Bryant calls Goose Creek, South Carolina home, enlisted in the Coast Guard in July 1988 and underwent Basic Training in Cape May, New Jersey. Upon graduation, his first assignment was CGC Ouachita (WLR-65501) as a Fireman. ENG3 Bryant is a Permanent Cutterman. His afloat assignments include USCGC Ouachita (WLR-65501) as a fireman, USCGC Dallas (WHEC-716) as a MK2, MK1 and as MPA. CGC Northland (WMEC-904) as MKC, and currently serves as Engineer Officer of Coast Guard Cutter OAK (WLB-211) in Charleston, SC. ENG3 Bryant’s ashore assignments include Coast Guard Base Southwest Harbor Maine as a MK3 & MK2, Marine Safety Office Providence, Rhode Island as an MK2/EPO , CG Station Charleston, South Carolina as EPO, Naval Engineering Support Unit Portsmouth, Virginia as a port engineer and MAT supervisor. ENG3 Bryant has been awarded Two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, a Navy Commendation Medal, Four Coast Guard Achievement Medals, Three Letters of Commendation, Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal and numerous Unit and Operational decorations. ENG3 Bryant is the 2007 Stabile award winner, and has been nominated twice for the Coast Guard Engineer of the year.
First Lieutenant
Chief Warrant Officer (BOSN3) Hunter Crider CWO3 Crider was born in Gainesville Florida and Studied at Santa fe CC in Gainesville and Chipola College in Marianna Florida. Upon graduating from Basic Training he served aboard the USCGC WHITE PINE, CG STATION MARATHON, CG STATION CHATHAM, USCGC BARANOF, USCGC POINT LOBOS, CG ANT GEORGETOWN, CG ANT CHARLESTON, USCGC SEQUOIA, CG SECTOR CHARLESTON AND USCGC ADAK. BOSN Crider has numerous personal awards including The CG Commendation Medal, CG Achievement Medal, and Iraqi Campaign Medal and is a permanent Cuttermen. BOSN Crider’s interests include gardening, hunting, fishing, camping and all outdoor sports and adventures; he has been married to the former Ms. Renee Rigby of Cocoa Beach Florida for 22 years, and has one daughter, Sealy who is studying nursing in Florida.
Command Chief
Chief Petty Officer (MKC) Stephen Plotner Stephen Plotner was born and raised in Pensacola, FL, where he also met his lovely wife Christina. Aug 1998 he attended basic training in Cape May, NJ, and received orders to ANT Miami Beach FL upon graduation. Mid 2000 he attended MK A School in Yorktown, VA and received orders to ANT South Portland Maine, where he stayed until July 2004 to transfer to CGC Jarvis in Honolulu, HI, as MK2. It was mere days prior to the cross country trip, that he got the news he would be a father. In January 2005 Chance Plotner was born in Tripler Hospital in Honolulu, HI. MK2 Plotner advanced to MK1, and in July 2007 reported to CGC ELM in Atlantic Beach, NC. In late 2009 MK1 Plotner advanced to MKC, received his permanent Cutterman’s pin, and was transferred to a critical fill on CGC OAK in Charleston, SC. At a small ceremony in May 2011 MKC Plotner was appointed Command Chief and pinned by the District Seven Command Master Chief.
Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF)