Sector Charleston Deputy Commander

Commander Corydon (“Cory”) F. Heard IV

Commander Heard assumed the duties of Deputy Commander, Sector Charleston in June 2022 having served prior as the Prevention Department Head. Prior to reporting to Sector Charleston, he served as the Program Executive Office Reviewer for Surface Acquisitions in the Office of Budget and Programs at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C. He was responsible for reviewing and analyzing the Coast Guard’s $1.5 billion annual vessel acquisition portfolio, which includes the National Security Cutter; Offshore Patrol Cutter; Fast Response Cutter; Polar Security Cutter; Waterways Commerce Cutter; as well as Procurement, Construction & Improvement funded in-service vessel sustainment programs.

Prior to Coast Guard Headquarters, Commander Heard was the Prevention Department Head at Marine Safety Unit Texas City. In this capacity, he supervised marine safety personnel conducting commercial vessel inspections, waterfront facility exams, waterway management activities, marine casualty and personnel investigations on over 122 miles of Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, three major deep-draft ports, 12 shipyards, 14,000 square miles of Outer Continental Shelf and 26 miles of Houston Ship Channel leading to the Nation’s largest petrochemical port complex. Following the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, he led humanitarian response efforts and oversaw the resumption of commerce in the Ports of Houston, Texas City, Galveston, and Freeport.

Previous assignments include, Domestic Vessel Program Administrator and Marine Personnel Specialist in the Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance at Coast Guard Headquarters; Marine Inspection and Investigation duty at Activities Europe and Activities Baltimore; and as the Assistant Chief of Regional Examination Center (REC) Baltimore.

A native of Manassas, Virginia, Commander Heard is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. His academic degrees include a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, a Master of Arts in Homeland Security, and a Doctorate of Business Administration in Homeland Security: Leadership & Policy. He holds a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer Endorsement as a Third Mate of Steam or Motor Vessels of any Gross Tons upon Oceans. Additionally, he is a qualified “double ended” Master Marine Inspector (#113), Port State Control Officer, Marine Investigator, and Lead Auditor. In 2013, he was appointed by the United States as an auditor for the International Maritime Organization’s Member State Audit Scheme.

His awards and honors include the Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, the Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal, and various service, unit and team awards as well as the permanent Marine Safety Insignia and Navy’s Strategic Sealift Officer Warfare Insignia. He is also the recipient of the LCDR Turek Award for Marine Inspections, the Congressman Sener Award for Excellence in Marine Investigations, the DHS Gary E. Carter Award for Acquisition Excellence, and the Coast Guard’s Chief Financial Officer Award for Excellence.