Commander McLaughlin, a native of Massachusetts, graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Transportation. Upon graduation in 1987, he sailed for Exxon Shipping Company out of Houston, TX. Commander McLaughlin entered the U.S. Coast Guard in 1989 and was assigned to Marine Safety Office San Juan, Puerto Rico where he served as the unit’s Senior Investigating Officer. Following that tour, he was assigned to Marine Inspection Office New York, NY, where he oversaw vessel inspections conducted in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
While stationed in New York, Commander McLaughlin attended graduate school at the State University of New York Maritime College where he received a Master of Science degree in Transportation Management. He was then selected to attend Marine Industry Training with American Hawaii Cruises in Honolulu, HI. He followed that assignment with a tour as the Assistant Chief of the Inspection Department at Marine Safety Office in Honolulu, HI. He was then assigned to Marine Safety Office Providence, RI where he served as the Chief of the Prevention Department. In August of 2003, he was assigned as Chief of the Marine Safety Compliance Operations Branch for the Ninth Coast Guard District in Cleveland, Ohio. In July 2006, Commander McLaughlin was assigned to Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, FL and in July 2009 assumed his current position as Deputy Sector Commander.
Commander McLaughlin and his wife Kathleen reside in St. Johns, Florida with their two sons: Brendan (15) and Brian (14).
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