Commodore, PATFORSWA
Captain John M. McTamney IV
Captain John M. McTamney IV relieved as Commanding Officer, USCG Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA) and Commodore of CTG 55.1 on June 15, 2023. He is a native of Willingboro, NJ. He graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and holds Masters degrees in Business Administration and National Security and Strategic Studies from Florida Atlantic University and the U.S. Naval War College, respectively.
A career cutterman with over 8 years of sea time, Captain McTamney’s most recent afloat tour from 2017-2019 was as Commanding Officer of USCGC SPENCER (WMEC-905), then homeported in Boston, MA. During that tour, he led the crew through two 90-day Eastern Pacific Joint Interagency Task Force South counter-narcotics patrols, a 90-day District One fisheries enforcement and Search and Rescue patrol, and a District Seven Alien Migrant Interdiction Operations patrol. Additionally, SPENCER participated in the first ever Arctic Coast Guard Forum full-scale Search and Rescue Exercise, ARCTIC GUARDIAN 2017, in Reykjavík, Iceland, and participated with the U.S. Navy during Fleet Week 2019 in Port Everglades, FL. Among other operational accomplishments during Captain McTamney’s tour, SPENCER successfully interdicted a Self-Propelled Semi-Submersible laden with 2.5 tons of cocaine onboard. SPENCER also completed a clean sweep of all warfare areas during Tailored Ship’s Training Availability and earned the highly coveted Overall Operational Readiness Excellence award.
Captain McTamney’s previous afloat units include Deck Watch Officer on CGC MOHAWK, Operations Officer on CGC SENECA, and Executive Officer on CGC TAHOMA.
Captain McTamney’s ashore experience include a tour at Sector Key West as a Search and Rescue controller and CDO, four years at the Coast Guard Academy as a Nautical Science instructor, three years assigned to the Office of Defense Operations in Washington, D.C., and four years as Nautical Science Department Head at CGA.
Captain McTamney's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), the Coast Guard Commendation medal (three awards), The Coast Guard Achievement medal, and various other service and unit awards. His wife (Kendra) and three teen-aged children (Jolie, Jorja, and Jameson) reside in Goshen, CT.
Deputy, PATFORSWA
Commander Cody B. Dunagan
CDR Dunagan, originally from Tacoma, WA, graduated from the University of Washington in 2005 where he earned two Bachelors of Science degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences and Conservation Biology. In 2007, he graduated from Officer Candidate School and was assigned as a Deck Watch Officer on the CGC MELLON (WHEC 717) home ported in Seattle, WA. In 2009, CDR Dunagan was assigned as Operations Officer aboard CGC WALNUT (WLB 205) home ported in Honolulu, HI where he conducted Aids to Navigation and Fisheries Enforcement operations. From 2011 to 2013, he was stationed in Alameda, CA within the PACAREA/11th District Command Center where he stood watch as a Command Duty Officer, Search and Rescue Controller and Law Enforcement Duty Officer in Pacific Area’s vast 74 million square mile area of operations. From 2013 to 2014, he was selected to serve as the 11th Districts Living Marine Resource Officer where he focused on improving training, building partnerships and shaped fisheries operations throughout the district. In 2014 he earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from California State University East Bay then received orders to be the Executive Officer for CGC ELM (WLB 204) home ported in Atlantic Beach, NC. From 2016 to 2018, CDR Dunagan commanded the CGC GEORGE COBB (WLM 564) home ported in San Pedro, CA where he again conducted Aids to Navigation and Fisheries Enforcement operations along the west coast of the United States from San Francisco, CA to the US/Mexico border. In 2020, CDR Dunagan earned an additional Masters Degree in Marine Affairs from the University of Washington then transferred to Coast Guard Headquarters to serve in the Office of Maritime Law Enforcement as the Deputy Chief – Fisheries Enforcement Division (CG-MLE-4). In that capacity, he managed compliance with domestic fisheries regulations and helped shape national level strategy to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing. In 2023, he received orders to the Kingdom of Bahrain to serve as the Deputy Commodore for Patrol Forces Southwest Asia.
CDR Dunagan is a permanent Cutterman whose personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals and various unit and team awards. He is also a licensed U.S. Merchant Mariner as a Near-Coastal Master of vessels up to 100 gross tons with a sailing endorsement.
Command Master Chief, PATFORSWA
Command Master Chief James Murray
Master Chief Murray enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves in May 1997 and lateralled to the U.S. Coast Guard in February 1999. His first tour of duty was assigned as a Fireman at CG Station San Francisco, CA. He attended Avionics Technician (AVT) “A” school in March 2000. His assignments include duty as an HH-60J Flight Mechanic at CG Air Station Astoria, and then a student at the Advanced Avionics and Integrated Weapons Systems Maintenance Course-C1 (AAIWSM) at NATTC Pensacola, Fl. A C-37A and C-143A Avionicsman at CG Air Station Washington D.C. A Radioman on the HC-130H in Kodiak, AK followed by a short 10-month tour in Savannah, GA. as the Avionics shop Chief. Additionally, he served as the LCPO for Air Station Houston, TX. In his last assignment, he served as the Unit Command Master Chief for Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles, WA from 2017-2020.
Master Chief Murray is a native of Cabot, AR. He is completing a degree in Electronics Engineering. In 2008, he was selected as the Nation Capital Region’s Enlisted Person of the Year and was also a nominee for the Douglas Munro Inspirational Leadership Award. He graduated from the CPO Academy class 186 in May 2012 and the Senior Enlisted Leadership Course in March 2017. Master Chief Murrays personal awards include: two Coast Guard Commendation Medals with the “O” device, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, three Commandant Letter of Commendation awards, seven Good Conduct Medals, Command Master Chief Silver Badge Insignia, and the Aircrewman Insignia.