Master Chief Shawn Marchinek assumed the duties of the Command Master Chief for Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) South, Key West, Fla, July 7, 2015. As the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Director and staff of JIATF South, he advises on workforce policies, is the senior enlisted mentor, and acts as the sounding board for select administrative actions and initiatives relative to the day to day operations with the joint command structure. Prior to his current assignment, Master Chief served as the Command Master Chief for Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound in Seattle.
Master Chief Marchinek enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1992. Following basic training at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., he reported to Coast Guard Polar Ice-Breaker USCGC POLAR SEA in Seattle. Two years later, he transferred to USCGC CUTTYHUNK in Port Angeles, Wash. In June 1995, he attended Coast Guard Telecommunications Specialist Class ‘A’ school in Petaluma, Calif. He subsequently served aboard USCGC ACTIVE in Port Angeles, Wash. In addition, Master Chief Marchinek completed shore assignments at Communications Area Master Station Pacific (CAMSPAC) Point Reyes, Calif.; USCG Group Port Angeles, Wash.; USCG District Thirteen, Seattle; and USCG Vessel Traffic Center Valdez, Alaska, and deployed with USCG Port Security Unit 313 to Pusan, Korea, in support of Operation Foal Eagle 2000. In June 2009, Master Chief Marchinek was invited to join the faculty of the Navy’s Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, R.I., as the first Coast Guard Faculty Advisor.
Master Chief Marchinek holds an Associates of Arts degree in Business Administration from Coastline Community College and Bachelors of Science in Public Administration from Roger Williams University. He is a graduate of the Coast Guard CPO Academy, Class 116; Coast Guard Command Master Chief Course; and Army Sergeants Major Academy, Class 59.
His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, two Coast Guard Commendation Medal (with ‘O’ Device), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, two Coast Guard Commandant’s Letter of Commendation (with ‘O’ Device) and various unit and service awards. He also earned the Cutterman and Boat Force Operations Insignias.
Master Chief Marchinek is originally from Kettle Falls, Wash., and is married to the former Teresa Torres of Port Angeles, Wash., and they have four children: Tristian, Andrew, Hayden, and Sophia.