Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven W. Cantrell
12th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
Master Chief Steven W. Cantrell assumed the duties of the
12th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard on May
22, 2014. As the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the
Commandant, Master Chief Cantrell advises him on enlisted
workforce policies, advocates for military benefits and
entitlements, is the senior enlisted mentor, and acts as the
sounding board for select enlisted administrative actions.
Master Chief Cantrell also devotes time visiting Coast
Guard units, speaking with Coast Guardsmen and their
families.
Master Chief Cantrell’s other shore assignments include:
Command Master Chief of the Atlantic Area; Senior
Enlisted Advisor to the Vice Commandant of the Coast
Guard; Command Master Chief of the Eighth Coast Guard
District, New Orleans, LA; Officer in Charge, Station
Panama City Beach, FL; Command Master Chief of the First
Coast Guard District, Boston, MA; Officer in Charge,
Station Wrightsville Beach, NC; Officer in Charge, Station Alexandria Bay, NY; Officer in
Charge, Station Harbor Beach, MI; and Operations Petty Officer, Station Barnegat Light, NJ.
Master Chief Cantrell’s afloat assignments include: Officer in Charge, Coast Guard Cutters
RIDLEY and POINT WELLS, Montauk, NY; Executive Petty Officer, Coast Guard Cutter POINT
CAMDEN, Santa Barbara, CA; Coast Guard Cutter CONFIDENCE, Port Canaveral, FL; Coast
Guard Cutter PATOKA, Greenville, MS; and Coast Guard Cutter RAMBLER, Charleston, SC.
Master Chief Cantrell's awards include: the Legion of Merit; two Meritorious Service Medals; a
Coast Guard Commendation Medal with operational distinguishing device; seven Coast Guard
Achievement Medals with an operational distinguishing device; and other personal and service
awards. He has earned a permanent Cutterman insignia, Coxswain insignia, Boat Forces
Operations insignia, Command Afloat and Ashore devices, and a Command Master Chief (Gold
Badge) insignia.
Master Chief Cantrell assumed the duties of the 12th Silver Ancient Mariner on May 5, 2014.
Master Chief Cantrell holds both a Bachelor of Science Degree and a Master of Science Degree in
Business Administration. He is also a graduate of Class 45 of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer
Academy and the National Defense University’s Keystone Command Senior Enlisted Course.
Master Chief Cantrell and his wife Janet have 3 children: Candice Vanegas, Taylor Bragalone and
Jenna Ward. They have 7 grandchildren: Mya, Dylan, Emma Claire, Zachary, Hailey, Skylar and
Madeline.