Coast Guard Chief Warrant and Warrant Officers Association (CWOA)

Join Us in New Orleans | 2026 CWOA Annual Meeting - CWOA

Join Us in New Orleans | 2026 CWOA Annual Meeting Join the Chief Warrant and Warrant Officers Association for the 2026 Annual Meeting, June 10–14 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year marks 97 years of leadership, professional development, and fellowship across the CWO community. Register today and be par

For two months, Congress has failed to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Coast Guard. The resulting partial government shutdown has caused fear and uncertainty for many Coast Guardsmen and their families.

Adm. Kevin Lunday, the commandant of the Coast Guard, warned Congress during an April 16 hearing that the service has been unable to pay 5,000 utility bills due to the shutdown. He added that more than 100 providers have “threatened to cut off electricity and water to our Coast Guard stations and air stations.”

Since then, the Senate has advanced a budget plan that could help lead to an end to the shutdown. However, it remains unclear how long Congress might take to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, which the Coast Guard falls under.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coast-guard-crisis-dhs-shutdown-halts-pay-in-may-cuts-power-strains-missions/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab6a&linkId=934787525&fbclid=IwdGRjcARgOX5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR5dsB_MHPmN79tv1G9oyFQBPs9lLaDnqYJVPf6a10qYoVTVR-ktJvQ-uoQrdw_aem_l63t5hIAjWzU0ZqPDP7isw

Coast Guard operating in "crisis" as DHS shutdown halts pay in May, cuts power, strains missions overseas The Coast Guard will run out of funding to pay personnel on May 1, with the first missed paychecks expected May 15.

We are honored to share the next article in our CWOA Legacy and Leadership Project.

Written by CWO4 (Ret) George Borlase Jr, Past President and Distinguished Member, this piece highlights the establishment of the Chief Warrant Officer Professional Development Course and the leadership, persistence, and vision that made it possible.

This is an important part of our history—and a reminder of what our community can accomplish when we come together with purpose.

Take a few minutes to read the full article here:

The Establishment of the Chief Warrant Officer Professional Development Course Written by: CWO4 George Borlase Jr Past President / Distinguished Member

Coast Guard Men and Women:

On Friday, President Trump signed an Executive Order to ensure all Department of Homeland Security civilians receive pay for pay periods 3, 4, 5, and 6.

This is welcome news for our 8,901 Coast Guard civilians who have not been paid since February. To all of our civilian teammates, especially those who have continued to stand the watch without pay for the last seven weeks, you have our deepest gratitude and respect. While our active-duty personnel have continued to receive pay, this action finally addresses the severe hardship our civilian teammates and their families have endured.

Your chain of command, human resources staff, and timekeepers are working diligently to ensure you receive these back payments by the end of this week.

We are grateful for President Trump’s decisive action and Secretary Mullin’s advocacy for our dedicated civilian workforce.

While this back pay provides much-needed relief, I want to be clear: the underlying lapse in appropriations continues and the Coast Guard remains unfunded. Therefore, your current work status (exempt, excepted, furloughed) remains unchanged.

We will continue to work closely with the Secretary as he fights to secure full funding for DHS and the Coast Guard.

Thank you and Semper Paratus.

ADM Kevin E. Lunday
Commandant

MCPOCG Phillip N. Waldron
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

Leadership and legacy aren’t just built in meetings, they’re built in the conversations, connections, and shared experiences that bring our Association together.

CWO J.T. Green, USCG (Ret), Distinguished Member and Past President, shares his perspective on the importance of Annual Meetings and the role they play in strengthening our chapters and our mission.

Take a moment to read the latest in our Leadership and Legacy series.

Annual Meetings & Hospitality Suite by CWO J.T. Green, USCG(ret), Distinguished Member & Past President

As part of the CWOA Legacy & Leadership Project, we are proud to share another story that highlights the judgment, experience, and leadership that define our Warrant Officer community.

In this installment, LT Jim Brown, USCG (Ret.) recounts a moment from his time serving as a Chief Warrant Officer at the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans. What began as a routine weekly briefing quickly became a defining leadership moment when he spoke up about unacceptable living conditions for enlisted members aboard a cutter undergoing repairs.

His story is a powerful reminder that leadership is not always about rank. Sometimes it is about having the experience, the courage, and the conviction to stand up and do what is right for the people we serve.

Stories like this capture the spirit of the Warrant Officer community and help preserve the lessons learned by those who came before us.

Read the full story here:

https://www.cwoauscg.org/the-cwoa-legacy--leadership-project/eighth-coast-guard-district-new-orleans-la-a-great-lesson

If you have a story from your own service that reflects the legacy, leadership, and impact of Coast Guard Warrant Officers, we encourage you to share it with us as part of this ongoing project.

EIGHTH COAST GUARD DISTRICT, NEW ORLEANS, LA; A GREAT LESSON By LT Jim Brown, USCG(ret) At the time, I was a Chief Warrant Officer (Personnel) assigned to the Eighth Coast Guard District Personnel Office in New Orleans. During one particular week, the Captain...

Congrats to our Brother CWO from the U.S. Army! Well done Shipmate!!

United States Army Warrant Officers Association, we nominate this CWO5 for life membership!

President Trump has just awarded CW5 Eric Slover the Medal of Honor at the State of the Union for his heroic actions in Operation Absolute Resolve.

Through the continued strenuous efforts of our Chief Policy Officer, Aniela Szymanski, and Executive Director, Michael Little, we are sending this letter directly to the White House today.

coast guard sends Letter directly to the white house The views expressed in the articles in this publication are solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the organizations for which they work, CWOAUSCG, the U.S....

This weekend’s Legacy & Leadership Project features a great story from CWO4 (Ret.) Carl Seale, CWOA President in 1979.

“Trips with the Commandant” is more than a few memorable flights and some close calls on the runway. It’s a reminder of the access, trust, and professionalism our Association carried at the highest levels of the Coast Guard. Carl used every opportunity—whether at OCS graduations or Coast Guard Birthday events—to speak about the CWOA and advocate for warrant officers.

It’s a strong reminder that leadership isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s steady, prepared, and ready when the moment comes.

Take a few minutes to read it here:
https://www.cwoauscg.org/the-cwoa-legacy--leadership-project/trips-with-the-commandant

If you’ve served this Association in any capacity, your story matters too. Board service, chapter leadership, policy fights, behind-the-scenes work—it’s all part of our history.

If we don’t preserve it, we lose it.

Consider submitting your story and becoming part of the Legacy & Leadership Project.

Trips with the Commandant ​By Carl Seale, CWO4, USCG (Ret.) President, CWOA – 1979 My name is Carl Seale, CWO4, retired. I was President of the Chief Warrant Officers Association (CWOA) in 1979. I had the pleasure of...