Charley L. Diaz

Last updated

Captain Charley L. Diaz (born in 1959 in Corpus Christi, Texas[ citation needed ]) is a 30-year United States Coast Guard veteran who served on Active Duty from 1982 to 2012. Diaz is best known for leading the crew of the USCGC Sherman (WHEC-720) in the seizure of the Panamanian freighter GATUN off the coast of Panama in March 2007, which netted nearly 20 tons of cocaine worth an estimated $600 million. [1] It was the largest maritime drug bust in US history.

Contents

On July 21, 2005, Diaz became the first American of Hispanic descent to command a High endurance cutter (the U.S. Coast Guard’s largest cutter class). [2] In 2008, Diaz was named one of the "Top Hispanics in the U.S. Military" by Hispanic Engineer & IT magazine. [3] He officially retired from the U.S. Coast Guard on June 30, 2012. Diaz is an independent Homeland Security consultant in the greater Washington, D.C. area and President of Diaz and Associates, Maritime Consultants (a Maryland company).

Background and education

Diaz was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and is a 1978 graduate of Mary Carroll High School.[ citation needed ]In 1982, Diaz graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, where he was captain of the cadet drill team. He holds a master's degree in Public Administration (with honors) from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and a diploma (with distinction) from the U.S. Naval War College. He also completed the Department of Homeland Security “Executive Leaders Program” in 2012 at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. [4] Diaz was a visiting scholar at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. from 2004 to 2005. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City [5] and also a life member of the Association of Naval Services Officers, a national Hispanic affinity group. [6]

Largest maritime drug bust in U.S. history

The M/V Gatun seizure MV Gatun Cocaine seizure by USCG.jpg
The M/V Gatun seizure

On March 18, 2007, Diaz led the crew of the USCGC Sherman in the seizure of the motor vessel GATUN with 765 bales of cocaine (nearly 20 tons) worth an estimated $600 million; it remains the largest maritime drug bust in U.S. history. [7] [8] USCGC Sherman was working for the Joint Interagency Task Force South at the time. Operating on a tip from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the working closely with Panamanian officials, the takedown occurred just west of the Panama Canal entrance. [9] The cocaine was hidden in two shipping containers. The drugs were later offloaded in Alameda, California where they were transferred to the Drug Enforcement Administration and transported via two Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft to Florida for destruction. [10] [11] This celebrated drug seizure made headlines around the world. [12]

Operational assignments

Diaz is a career cutterman, having served 12 years of sea duty on six Coast Guard cutters, commanding four of them. His afloat assignments include:

Senior staff assignments

Diaz was the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Chief of Staff in Alameda, California from 2009 to 2012 where he served three Area Commanders: Vice Admiral David Pekoske, Vice Admiral Jody Breckenridge, and Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown. From March 2008 - May 2009, he also served as the first ever Chief of Staff (aka Executive Director) of the new U. S. Coast Guard Force Readiness Command for Rear Admiral Timothy S. Sullivan. Prior to reporting to Pacific Area, Diaz headed the Coast Guard’s International Affairs Directorate in Washington, D.C. reporting to the Deputy Commandant for Operations, and often working directly for the Commandant, Admiral Thad W. Allen. He also served as Aide de Camp for the 20th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Admiral Robert E. Kramek.

Capitol Hill and 9/11

Diaz spent three years working on Capitol Hill from 1999 to 2002. Diaz was the first Coast Guard Officer to serve in a Congressional leadership office when he served as the Drug Policy Advisor to the U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois). [Mass 3] In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, Diaz helped identify the critical link between illegal heroin profits in Afghanistan and the al Qaeda terrorist network. [14] Diaz was also instrumental in pushing legislation to create the new Department of Homeland Security and establish the U.S. Coast Guard as an official member of the U.S. Intelligence Community.[ citation needed ] Under Chairman John Mica (R-Florida), Diaz helped orchestrate Congressional hearings that led to the passage of Plan Colombia (i.e., the $1B U.S. aid package that helped reverse coca production trends in Colombia).[ citation needed ]

Retirement

On June 30, 2012, Captain Diaz officially retired from the U.S. Coast Guard. At the time of his retirement, he was a senior Captain in the United States Coast Guard [Mass 4] and serving as the Pacific Area Chief of Staff responsible for overseeing the execution of one half of all Coast Guard operations. [Mass 5] He is[ when? ] President and CEO of Diaz LLC, Diaz & Associates Consulting.[ citation needed ]

Awards and recognition

USCGCAFLT.jpg Command at Sea insignia
USCGCO.jpg Cutterman Insignia
USCG - Commandant's Staff Badge.png Commandant Staff Badge

Diaz’s civilian awards and recognition include:

Notes

  1. ↑ "Cutters on Patrol - Cutter Sherman c2007". Tam Communications. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "The Unique Role of the U.S. Coast Guard - Cutter Sherman to Return Home After Deployment to Southeast Asia". Military.com. September 20, 2006. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  3. ↑ Copp, Tara. "Carroll grad hears call of Capitol Hill". Scripps Howard News Service for the Corpus Christi Caller Times. Archived from the original on 18 October 2006. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  4. ↑ May, RADM Daniel. "U.S. Coast Guard Register of Officers dated March 2, 2012 (p. 2)" (PDF). Commander, USCG Personnel Service Center. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  5. ↑ Vasquez, Tina (April 7, 2012). "Coastal Bend Military Notes (Diaz Retirement)". Corpus Christi Caller Times. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  6. ↑ Pickavance, Rear Admiral William "Bear". "Texas Navy Association Newsletter". Texas Navy Association. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.

Related Research Articles

USCGC <i>Acushnet</i> (WMEC-167) United States Coast Guard cutter

USCGC Acushnet (WMEC-167) was a cutter of the United States Coast Guard, homeported in Ketchikan, Alaska. She was originally USS Shackle (ARS-9), a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned by the United States Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for coming to the aid of stricken vessels and received three battle stars during World War II, before a long career with the Coast Guard. Acushnet patrolled the waters of the North Pacific and was one of the last World War II era ships on active duty in the US fleet upon her retirement in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. William Kime</span> 19th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard

John William Kime was an admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 19th commandant from 1990 to 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwin J. Roland</span>

Edwin John Roland, was a United States Coast Guard admiral and served as the twelfth Commandant of the Coast Guard from 1962 to 1966. During his tenure, Roland oversaw the replacement of many World War II era cutters under fleet modernization programs. He also assisted the U.S. Navy with operations in Vietnam by supplying crews and cutters for Operation Market Time. Roland was noted for his support in efforts to bring international safety standards to merchant shipping. Although Roland was already retired when the Coast Guard was transferred from the Department of Treasury to the newly formed Department of Transportation in 1967, he was largely responsible for the planning for the move and the Coast Guard retaining its military responsibilities along with its transportation related functions.

USCGC <i>Dallas</i> (WHEC-716)

USCGC Dallas (WHEC-716) was a United States Coast Guard high endurance cutter commissioned in 1967 at the Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was the sixth ship or boat to bear the name of Alexander J. Dallas, the Secretary of the Treasury under President James Madison (1814–1816). She is one of twelve Hamilton-class cutters built for the Coast Guard.

USCGC <i>Morgenthau</i>

The USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC-722), was the eighth of twelve 378-foot dual-powered turbine/diesel Hamilton-class high endurance cutters (WHECs) built by Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Coast Guard commissioned the Morgenthau on March 10, 1969. After 48 years of continuous service the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the Morgenthau on April 18, 2017, and the ship was sold to Vietnam. On 27 May 2017 the Vietnam Coast Guard commissioned the former cutter as patrol craft CSB-8020.

USCGC <i>Dauntless</i>

USCGC Dauntless (WMEC-624) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter, commissioned in 1968 and still on active duty.

USCGC <i>Hamilton</i> (WHEC-715) Hamilton-class cutter of the US Coast Guard

USCGC Hamilton (WHEC-715) was a United States Coast Guard high endurance cutter and the lead ship of its class. It was based at Boston, Massachusetts from commissioning until 1991, then out of San Pedro, California before it was moved to its last home port in San Diego, California. It was launched on December 18, 1965 at Avondale Shipyards near New Orleans, Louisiana and named for Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, the first United States Secretary of the Treasury and founder of the United States Revenue Cutter Service. It was commissioned on March 18, 1967.

USCGC <i>Forward</i>

USCGC Forward (WMEC-911) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter. Named for Walter Forward, fifteenth United States Secretary of the Treasury, she was constructed by Robert Derecktor Shipyard Incorporated, Middletown, Rhode Island was delivered in May 1989, and commissioned 4 August 1990. USCGC Forward (WMEC-911) and USCGC Legare (WMEC-912) were commissioned in a joint ceremony in Portsmouth, Virginia.

USCGC <i>Campbell</i> (WMEC-909)

USCGC Campbell (WMEC-909) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter based at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island. Campbell is the sixth Coast Guard Cutter to bear the name and is assigned to the Atlantic. The ship bears the distinction of having made some of the largest narcotics seizures in Coast Guard history as well as being the command ship for the TWA 800 recovery effort.

USCGC <i>Bear</i> (WMEC-901) American Coast Guard vessel

USCGC Bear (WMEC-901) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter. She was laid down August 23, 1979 and launched September 25, 1980 by the Tacoma Boatbuilding Company of Tacoma, Washington. She was commissioned February 4, 1983. She was named for USRC Bear (AG-29), a steam barquentine that was built in Scotland and served the United States Treasury Department in the United States Revenue Cutter Service's Alaskan Patrol.

USCGC <i>Valiant</i>

USCGC Valiant (WMEC-621) is a United States Coast Guard multi-mission medium endurance cutter in service since 1967. Valiant is home ported in Jacksonville, Florida and operates in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico for the Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area. Missions include search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, marine environmental protection, and national defense operations.

USCGC <i>Active</i> (WMEC-618)

USCGC Active (WMEC-618) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter. Active was launched at Christy Corporation, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin on July 31, 1965. Commissioned on September 1, 1966, she is 210 feet (64 m) long, has a 34-foot (10 m) beam, displaces 1108 tons, and draws 13 feet (4.0 m) of water. She is powered by two diesel engines, combined for a total of 5,000 hp (3,700 kW). Quarters are provided for up to 12 officers and 70 enlisted members. Active's cruising range is 5,000 nautical miles (9,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h), designed with an operating endurance of about 30 days. At her top speed of 18 knots (33 km/h), Active has an approximate range of 2,200 nautical miles (4,070 km). Active's armament consists of a single 25 mm gun on the forecastle. The forecastle, bridge and fantail can also mount .50 caliber machine guns. The Active has a flight deck which allows for the deployment of a Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin. USCGC Active has received several awards in recent years for its outstanding service to the maritime community, including oil spill clean ups in Prince William Sound, Alaska during the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

USCGC <i>Confidence</i> US Coast Guard vessel

USCGC Confidence (WMEC-619) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter.

USCGC <i>Resolute</i> US Coast Guard vessel

USCGC Resolute (WMEC-620) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter.

USCGC <i>Venturous</i>

USCGC Venturous (WMEC-625) is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter. The vessel was constructed by the American Shipbuilding Company in Lorain, Ohio in 1967 and commissioned in 1968. The ship has served on both the west and eastern coasts of the United States. The vessel is used for search and rescue, fishery law enforcement, border enforcement and smuggling interdiction along the coasts and in the Caribbean Sea.

USCGC <i>Vigorous</i>

USCGC Vigorous (WMEC-627) is a United States Coast Guard Reliance Class medium endurance cutter.

USS <i>Seize</i>

USS Seize (ARS-26) was a Diver-class rescue and salvage ship commissioned in the United States Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald J. Rabago</span>

Ronald James Rábago is a retired United States Coast Guard rear admiral who in 2006 became the first person of Hispanic American descent to be promoted to flag rank in the United States Coast Guard. He retired as the assistant commandant for engineering and logistics and the United States Coast Guard's chief engineer in 2014.

Hispanics in the United States Coast Guard can trace their tradition of service to the early 19th century, when they initially performed duties at light house stations as keepers and assistant keepers in its predecessor services. Hispanic is an ethnic term employed to categorize any citizen or resident of the United States, of any racial background, of any country, and of any religion, who has at least one ancestor from the people of Spain or is of non-Hispanic origin, but has an ancestor from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central or South America, or some other Hispanic origin. The three largest Hispanic groups in the United States are the Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans.

USCGC <i>Munro</i> (WMSL-755) Legend-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard

USCGC Munro (WMSL-755) is the sixth Legend-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard. Munro is the second cutter named for Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro (1919–1942), the only Coast Guardsman to be awarded the Medal of Honor. The US Navy destroyer escort USS Douglas A. Munro (DE-422) was also named for Munro.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from Captain Charley L. Diaz (PDF). United States Coast Guard . Retrieved 26 January 2012.

  1. ↑ Orr, Bob (September 19, 2007). "Coast Guard Bust Nets 21 Tons of Cocaine". CBS Evening News/AP. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  2. ↑ Thiesen, Dr. William H. "Hispanic-Americans & The U.S. Coast Guard". Coast Guard Historian's Office. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  3. ↑ Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology Editorial Department (2008). Top Hispanics in the U.S. military (p. 62). Career Communications Group. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  4. ↑ Issvoran, Heather. "Department of Homeland Security Executive Leaders Program video announcing the graduates)". CHDS, Naval Postgraduate School. Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  5. ↑ "CFR Membership Roster as of 02 Nov 2012". Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  6. ↑ Rodriguez, Rear Admiral Will. "Association of Naval Services Officers home page". Association of Naval Service Officers. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  7. ↑ Cook, Theresa (March 21, 2007). "U.S. Coast Guard Makes Biggest Cocaine Bust in U.S. History". ABCNews. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  8. ↑ "YouTube: Largest Maritime Drug Seizure in World History - posted Mar 21, 2007". USCGImagery. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  9. ↑ "Coast Guard Makes Record Maritime Cocaine Seizure - Press Briefing with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Admiral Thad Allen". Official USCG website. March 21, 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  10. ↑ "YouTube: What does 40,000 pounds of cocaine look like?". CGImagery uploaded April 27, 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  11. ↑ "20-ton cocaine bust biggest in Coast Guard's history". San Francisco Chronicle. April 23, 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  12. ↑ Tanner, Adam (Apr 23, 2007). "U.S. unloads record bust of 20 tons of cocaine". Reuters. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  13. ↑ Harris, Shane (May 1, 2003). "The Forgotten War". Government Executive Magazine. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  14. ↑ "Task Force to look at link between Terrorists, Drugs - dated Saturday September 22, 2001". Houston Chronicle Section A, p. 13, 2 STAR edition. Associated Press. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  15. ↑ "M/V GATUN Cocaine Seizure Team (2007)" (PDF). Department of Homeland Secretary. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  16. ↑ DHS/USCG Innovation Award. "2010 Captain Niels P. Thomsen Innovation Award - Force Readiness Command for Administration, Training and Support" (PDF). Coast Guard Innovation Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.