Master Chief Matthew Buckman assumed the duties of Deputy Master Chief Petty Officer of the United States Coast Guard on October 1, 2025, where he serves as the principal advisor to the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard and senior leadership on the impact of existing or proposed policy changes and potential situations pertinent to the morale and general well-being of service personnel and their families.
Prior assignments as a Command Senior Enlisted Leader include the Enlisted Professional Military Education Rating Force Master Chief, where he served as the senior subject matter and advised senior leadership as on required knowledge and advancement qualifications for all enlisted personnel. Prior to that he served as CSEL for the Great Lakes District, advising on operational and personnel matters encompassing the entire Great Lakes Region and Saint Lawrence Seaway. He also served as CSEL at Base Honolulu, the logistics support touchpoint for the Oceania District, spanning eight time zones, the International Date Line, the Equator and two oceans.
Master Chief Buckman is a native of Louisville, Kentucky and enlisted in the Coast Guard Reserves in 1990. He was assigned to Reserve Unit Louisville and advanced to Boatswain Mate Third Class. He transitioned to Active Duty in 1995 and was assigned to the USCGC MIDGETT in Seattle, WA. His subsequent assignments include Station Seattle and USCGC OCRACOKE in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Command assignments include Executive Petty Officer of Station Vallejo, CA; USCGC JOSHUA APPLEBY in St. Petersburg, FL; Officer in Charge of Station St. Joseph, Mich., and USCGCs FINBACK and CROCODILE in Cape May, N.J.
He is certified as a small boat Coxswain and Deck Watch Officer on multiple platforms. He has 11 years of sea time and is both a permanent Cutterman and a permanent Small Boat Coxswain. Master Chief Buckman holds a Merchant Mariner Certificate, Master of vessels of 200 tons.
Master Chief Buckman has attended numerous service schools, including Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Academy, Class CXL, and the Coast Guard Senior Enlisted Leader Course. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Louisville and a Master of Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.
Master Chief Buckman’s military awards include the two Meritorious Service Medals, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, two Commandant Letters of Commendation and numerous other personal and unit awards.