CWOA National Vice President Candidates
CWO4 (Ret) Mark Cortor
Get to know your CWOA Vice President candidate, CWO4 Mark Cortor (ret). Mark retired from Active Duty in 2020 with 25+ years of service to our U.S. Coast Guard. He is extremely passionate as to military non-profit organizations, as he has served as the former President of our CWOA (2018-2020), former President of the CPOA (Petaluma Chapter 2007-08) and Coast Guard Advisor to the Board of Directors of the Sea Service Family Foundation (SSFF)(2019-20).
Mark is a CWOA Lifetime Member (member in good standing since January 2009), current Vice President of the Open Country Chapter, Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee, Committee member of the Permanent Finance Committee, Bylaws Committee and 100 Anniversary Committee. He has formerly served as Chairman 100 Anniversary Committee (2021-22), Long Range Planning Committee (2022), Communications Committee (2020-21) and was a member of several other committees since his time of President ended in 2020. Beyond the CWOA, he is currently the SSFF Chief Advocacy Officer and active member of the Cpl Chris S. Ebert Marine Corps League Detachment #1221 in Forest City, NC.
The traditional role of our CWOA Vice President has been very limited to being the Chairman of the Membership Committee, while also being available to serve as President in the absence of the current President and while Mark feels those are very important to our Association, he also believe a new role of the CWOA VP should be more engaging with our Chapter Presidents, along with their respective Board of Directors as to expand our organization influence by having the energy created by our Annual Meetings carry throughout the year with solid communications between our Chapters and the Association's BODs via our next Vice President.
Mark is a CWOA Lifetime Member (member in good standing since January 2009), current Vice President of the Open Country Chapter, Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee, Committee member of the Permanent Finance Committee, Bylaws Committee and 100 Anniversary Committee. He has formerly served as Chairman 100 Anniversary Committee (2021-22), Long Range Planning Committee (2022), Communications Committee (2020-21) and was a member of several other committees since his time of President ended in 2020. Beyond the CWOA, he is currently the SSFF Chief Advocacy Officer and active member of the Cpl Chris S. Ebert Marine Corps League Detachment #1221 in Forest City, NC.
The traditional role of our CWOA Vice President has been very limited to being the Chairman of the Membership Committee, while also being available to serve as President in the absence of the current President and while Mark feels those are very important to our Association, he also believe a new role of the CWOA VP should be more engaging with our Chapter Presidents, along with their respective Board of Directors as to expand our organization influence by having the energy created by our Annual Meetings carry throughout the year with solid communications between our Chapters and the Association's BODs via our next Vice President.
CWO4 Bryan Kaseman
CWO Kaseman assumed the duties and responsibilities as the Mission Execution
CWO Assignment Officer at Personnel Services Center in Washington DC during
the summer of 2019. In this capacity, he is responsible for more than 1300
personnel in the following CWO specialties: BOSN, ENG, ISM, MLES, MSSD,
MSSE, MSSR, and OSS.
CWO Kaseman’s previous tours include:
2000-2005: FA/FN/MK3/MK2 aboard CGC BISCAYNE BAY
2005-2008: MK2/MK1 at Station Marblehead, Engineering and Boarding
Officer
2008-2012: MK1/MKC at Station St. Ignace, Engineer Petty Officer
2012-2014: MKC aboard CGC BLOCK ISLAND, Engineer Petty Officer
2014-2016: MKC at Station Marblehead, Engineer Petty Officer
2016-2019: CWO2 at PSC-EPM, MK Assignment Officer
CWO Kaseman’s CWO specialty is Naval Engineering. He is from Pemberville,
Ohio. He has been a geo-bachelor since coming to EPM in 2016 and lives the full
time RV lifestyle. When not working, you will likely find him spending time with
his dog, camping, or hunting.
CWO Assignment Officer at Personnel Services Center in Washington DC during
the summer of 2019. In this capacity, he is responsible for more than 1300
personnel in the following CWO specialties: BOSN, ENG, ISM, MLES, MSSD,
MSSE, MSSR, and OSS.
CWO Kaseman’s previous tours include:
2000-2005: FA/FN/MK3/MK2 aboard CGC BISCAYNE BAY
2005-2008: MK2/MK1 at Station Marblehead, Engineering and Boarding
Officer
2008-2012: MK1/MKC at Station St. Ignace, Engineer Petty Officer
2012-2014: MKC aboard CGC BLOCK ISLAND, Engineer Petty Officer
2014-2016: MKC at Station Marblehead, Engineer Petty Officer
2016-2019: CWO2 at PSC-EPM, MK Assignment Officer
CWO Kaseman’s CWO specialty is Naval Engineering. He is from Pemberville,
Ohio. He has been a geo-bachelor since coming to EPM in 2016 and lives the full
time RV lifestyle. When not working, you will likely find him spending time with
his dog, camping, or hunting.
CWO2 Chester Buohl
CHESTER BUOHL was appointed to CWO on 01June2021, and assigned to C5ISC as a Project Manager within the BUSINESS OPERATIONS DIVISION. CWO Buohl has since become the Coast Guard’s first Project Recovery Manager, entering into chartered evolutions to surgically remediate or mitigate significant risks to high visibility projects within the C5ISC. He currently serves as the Vice President of the COAST GUARD CWOA NORFOLK DISTRICT CHAPTER and is a very active contributor on the C5I Warrant Officers TEAM.
Throughout his career, CWO BUOHL has aggressively pursued diverse and demanding assignments to develop his technological, leadership, and managerial acumen. As a junior technician stationed at ESD DETROIT, he voluntarily deployed with the USCGC EAGLE and the USCGC TAMPA, flourishing as an independent technician and gaining invaluable underway experience and leadership development. His first exposure to Incident Management Systems came with another voluntary deployment aboard the USCGC FORWARD- When the Deep Water Horizon Rig went up in flames, he became the THSP on site and was instrumental in setting up the first CTU. On his next tour at USCG TRACEN PETALUMA IT A-SCHOOL he became the first IT Instructor to obtain the distinguished Master Training Specialist credential. As a Master Training Specialist, he developed and implemented curriculum for the unsupported A+ Hardware and Network+ units, resulting in an unsurpassed 93.4% pass rate, successfully certifying 266 students in compliance with the DOD Information Assurance requirements at a cost savings for the Coast Guard of $485k. Concurrently he audited countless classrooms and associated curriculum while mentoring and qualifying 30 new instructors across the TRACEN. After a year as the LPO at ESD KEY WEST, he advanced to Chief Petty Officer and accepted short fuse orders to ESD SAN JUAN. He was welcomed into the Mess officially on 10NOV2016. Two months later, he was able to attend CPO Academy Class 228. Designated as COM-T for the Hurricane Maria IMT, he inventoried and deployed $13.5M worth of contingency C4IT equipment throughout the Puerto Rico and USVI while directly supervising 31 Petty Officers, 1 GS, and 44 TDY Technicians throughout the Hurricane Recovery and Reconstitution efforts. By the end of his tour, he was Acting ESD Supervisor turned Acting Department Head of the newly stood up BASE SAN JUAN. He leveraged relationships with the D7 DAR, TISCOM-PLD-NET-WLB Team, Inter-Agency Partners at Fort Buchanan, and LEC’s to facilitate AOR-wide bandwidth increases across PR and the USVI creating a more robust infrastructure capable of handling modern operational demands. Those same relationships were called upon to include the USCG in the development of the PRAWSII migration for all of the DOD POTS, T1, and Microwave Circuits in Puerto Rico—this effort continued through his transfer to be the Assistant Supervisor of the C5I Shop at ATC MOBILE… and his subsequent promotion to CWO2 the following Summer.
His personal awards include Two Armed Forces Service Medals, A Commendation Medal, four Achievement Medals, and various other personal and unit awards.
Throughout his career, CWO BUOHL has aggressively pursued diverse and demanding assignments to develop his technological, leadership, and managerial acumen. As a junior technician stationed at ESD DETROIT, he voluntarily deployed with the USCGC EAGLE and the USCGC TAMPA, flourishing as an independent technician and gaining invaluable underway experience and leadership development. His first exposure to Incident Management Systems came with another voluntary deployment aboard the USCGC FORWARD- When the Deep Water Horizon Rig went up in flames, he became the THSP on site and was instrumental in setting up the first CTU. On his next tour at USCG TRACEN PETALUMA IT A-SCHOOL he became the first IT Instructor to obtain the distinguished Master Training Specialist credential. As a Master Training Specialist, he developed and implemented curriculum for the unsupported A+ Hardware and Network+ units, resulting in an unsurpassed 93.4% pass rate, successfully certifying 266 students in compliance with the DOD Information Assurance requirements at a cost savings for the Coast Guard of $485k. Concurrently he audited countless classrooms and associated curriculum while mentoring and qualifying 30 new instructors across the TRACEN. After a year as the LPO at ESD KEY WEST, he advanced to Chief Petty Officer and accepted short fuse orders to ESD SAN JUAN. He was welcomed into the Mess officially on 10NOV2016. Two months later, he was able to attend CPO Academy Class 228. Designated as COM-T for the Hurricane Maria IMT, he inventoried and deployed $13.5M worth of contingency C4IT equipment throughout the Puerto Rico and USVI while directly supervising 31 Petty Officers, 1 GS, and 44 TDY Technicians throughout the Hurricane Recovery and Reconstitution efforts. By the end of his tour, he was Acting ESD Supervisor turned Acting Department Head of the newly stood up BASE SAN JUAN. He leveraged relationships with the D7 DAR, TISCOM-PLD-NET-WLB Team, Inter-Agency Partners at Fort Buchanan, and LEC’s to facilitate AOR-wide bandwidth increases across PR and the USVI creating a more robust infrastructure capable of handling modern operational demands. Those same relationships were called upon to include the USCG in the development of the PRAWSII migration for all of the DOD POTS, T1, and Microwave Circuits in Puerto Rico—this effort continued through his transfer to be the Assistant Supervisor of the C5I Shop at ATC MOBILE… and his subsequent promotion to CWO2 the following Summer.
His personal awards include Two Armed Forces Service Medals, A Commendation Medal, four Achievement Medals, and various other personal and unit awards.
CWO2 Steve Mensen
Bio Requested
CWO4 Jeff Timberlake
On January 19th, 1993 Chief Warrant Officer Jeff
Timberlake (CWO4 Timberlake) entered USCG recruit TRACEN Cape May, NJ as a Seaman Recruit. He is currently assigned at Leadership Development Center (LDC) as the Course Chief for Chief Warrant Officer Professional Development (CWOPD) were he manages 10 CWO courses a year along with CWOPD instructor. Previous to LDC, he was stationed at USCG Air Station Clearwater for 5 yrs. 2016 – 2021 where he was the assistant facilities engineer for the CG’s largest air station w/3 remote air craft sites encompassing over 72 acres. Previous to Air Station Clearwater, he was stationed at Sector Field Office (SFO) Valdez for 3 yrs. 2013 - 2016 where he was Anchorage SFO Valdez Supervisor. Prior to SFO Valdez, he was at Leadership Development Center (LDC) New London, CT. from 2yrs. 2011 - 2013, as the Detachment Supervisor and LAMS Instructor. Previous to LDC, he was stationed at USCG Air Station Clearwater for 5 yrs. 2006 – 2011 as the facilities manager. Leading one E-7’s, five E-6 shop supervisors, 11 E5’s & E4’s, eight Non-rates, and three civilians. Prior to Air Station Clearwater he was assigned to Kodiak LORAN Station for 3yrs 2003 – 2006 as the Engineering Department head overseeing 10,000 sq/ft LORAN building, 625’ tower, and
87 acres. Prior Loran Station Kodiak he was assigned to USCG Recruit TRACEN Cape May for 3 yrs 2000 – 2003 as a Company Commander, training and developing new seaman and fireman apprentice for the field. Prior to Training Center Cape May he was assigned to CGC KICKAPOO for 3 yrs 1997 – 2000. Here he performed the duties as Independent Damage Controlman, Buoy Deck Supervisor, Import and Underway Engineer. Prior to CGC KICKAPOO was ISC Portsmouth Iron shop performing the duties he does best, welding and fabricating. CWO Timberlake’s first tour of duties was the CGC IRIS for 1.5 years 1993 – 1994 where he was assigned to the deck department and struck DC3. He has attended many specialized courses during his career, including Marine Firefighting, Confined Space Entry, Advance welding, Recruit Company Commander, LAMS, IDC, Master Training Specialist, Health/fitness Coordinator, Command Financial Specialist, 35-ton Mobile crane operator, Tower/Rescue climbing, Command Chief, Contracting Officer’s Representative, AA degree, and Project Manager, bachelor’s degree in business and now working toward masters. CWO Timberlake has earned four Commendation Medal, four Achievement Medals, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Global War Terror Service Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, and four Good Conduct Medals. CWO Timberlake 55, a native of Richmond, Virginia and married to the former Teresa Michelle Abel of Richmond, VA. They reside in Groton, CT. Their oldest daughter Ashley 37 is stay at home mom raising her family and residing in West Point, VA. Daughter Allison 34 is raising a family and residing in Jacksonville, FL. Son Jeffrey Jr. 31, Active-duty Army 36B Staff Sergeant with the Special Operations resides in Raeford, NC. Justin 28, Technical trainer for Alta Equipment Company Volvo construction equipment dealer and resides in New Port Richey, FL. CWO Timberlake is a proud grandfather to 10 wonderful grandchildren, Kaleb, Karson, Wes, Nathan, Izabella, Eleanor, Pierston, Pierre, Silas, and Lainey-Mae.
Timberlake (CWO4 Timberlake) entered USCG recruit TRACEN Cape May, NJ as a Seaman Recruit. He is currently assigned at Leadership Development Center (LDC) as the Course Chief for Chief Warrant Officer Professional Development (CWOPD) were he manages 10 CWO courses a year along with CWOPD instructor. Previous to LDC, he was stationed at USCG Air Station Clearwater for 5 yrs. 2016 – 2021 where he was the assistant facilities engineer for the CG’s largest air station w/3 remote air craft sites encompassing over 72 acres. Previous to Air Station Clearwater, he was stationed at Sector Field Office (SFO) Valdez for 3 yrs. 2013 - 2016 where he was Anchorage SFO Valdez Supervisor. Prior to SFO Valdez, he was at Leadership Development Center (LDC) New London, CT. from 2yrs. 2011 - 2013, as the Detachment Supervisor and LAMS Instructor. Previous to LDC, he was stationed at USCG Air Station Clearwater for 5 yrs. 2006 – 2011 as the facilities manager. Leading one E-7’s, five E-6 shop supervisors, 11 E5’s & E4’s, eight Non-rates, and three civilians. Prior to Air Station Clearwater he was assigned to Kodiak LORAN Station for 3yrs 2003 – 2006 as the Engineering Department head overseeing 10,000 sq/ft LORAN building, 625’ tower, and
87 acres. Prior Loran Station Kodiak he was assigned to USCG Recruit TRACEN Cape May for 3 yrs 2000 – 2003 as a Company Commander, training and developing new seaman and fireman apprentice for the field. Prior to Training Center Cape May he was assigned to CGC KICKAPOO for 3 yrs 1997 – 2000. Here he performed the duties as Independent Damage Controlman, Buoy Deck Supervisor, Import and Underway Engineer. Prior to CGC KICKAPOO was ISC Portsmouth Iron shop performing the duties he does best, welding and fabricating. CWO Timberlake’s first tour of duties was the CGC IRIS for 1.5 years 1993 – 1994 where he was assigned to the deck department and struck DC3. He has attended many specialized courses during his career, including Marine Firefighting, Confined Space Entry, Advance welding, Recruit Company Commander, LAMS, IDC, Master Training Specialist, Health/fitness Coordinator, Command Financial Specialist, 35-ton Mobile crane operator, Tower/Rescue climbing, Command Chief, Contracting Officer’s Representative, AA degree, and Project Manager, bachelor’s degree in business and now working toward masters. CWO Timberlake has earned four Commendation Medal, four Achievement Medals, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Global War Terror Service Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, and four Good Conduct Medals. CWO Timberlake 55, a native of Richmond, Virginia and married to the former Teresa Michelle Abel of Richmond, VA. They reside in Groton, CT. Their oldest daughter Ashley 37 is stay at home mom raising her family and residing in West Point, VA. Daughter Allison 34 is raising a family and residing in Jacksonville, FL. Son Jeffrey Jr. 31, Active-duty Army 36B Staff Sergeant with the Special Operations resides in Raeford, NC. Justin 28, Technical trainer for Alta Equipment Company Volvo construction equipment dealer and resides in New Port Richey, FL. CWO Timberlake is a proud grandfather to 10 wonderful grandchildren, Kaleb, Karson, Wes, Nathan, Izabella, Eleanor, Pierston, Pierre, Silas, and Lainey-Mae.
CWOA National Treasurer
CWO2 Jenn Thompson
ISM2 Jennifer Thompson is currently serving as the Supervisor at Electronics Support Detachment Seattle. She was born in Bremerhaven, Germany and claims Elizabethtown, KY as her home. She was recruited in the Coast Guard on December 3, 2007 from Recruiting Office Louisville, KY.
Previous units include Station Grand Isle, TRACEN Petaluma, ESD Boston, Coast Guard Recruiting Command, Advanced Education (ACET), and Base Portsmouth. She commissioned this past June to assume her current position in Seattle. She is the 2022 CGMA Ambassador of the Year, and previous served on the CGMA Board of Control.
CWO Thompson met and married her husband LT John Thompson in 2009 when they were both going through IT A-school. They have two children, Finnegan, 7, and Piper, 4. Jenn is an audiobook enthusiast and a big fan of Burn Boot Camp.
Previous units include Station Grand Isle, TRACEN Petaluma, ESD Boston, Coast Guard Recruiting Command, Advanced Education (ACET), and Base Portsmouth. She commissioned this past June to assume her current position in Seattle. She is the 2022 CGMA Ambassador of the Year, and previous served on the CGMA Board of Control.
CWO Thompson met and married her husband LT John Thompson in 2009 when they were both going through IT A-school. They have two children, Finnegan, 7, and Piper, 4. Jenn is an audiobook enthusiast and a big fan of Burn Boot Camp.
CWO3 Jake Elks
CWO3 Jake Elks currently serves as Vice President of Reserve Affairs and the sole Reserve Chief Warrant
Officer at Marine Safety Unit Savannah Georgia. He joined the national CWOA and local Philadelphia
Chapter in 2016 where he has helped organize and participate in several service projects to assist the
local community. In 2018 he became a plank owner in the Empire State Chapter while stationed at
Sector New York. In his full-time job, he serves as Business Development Manager Specialty Hazards –
Hangars & Munitions for Det-Tronics. Prior to being selected as a Chief Warrant Officer, Jake was a
Chief Marine Science Technician at Sector Hampton Roads.
CWO Elks enlisted in the Coast Guard Reserve in June 2001 and has had reserve assignments at the
Atlantic Strike Team, Sector Baltimore, Sector Delaware Bay, Sector Hampton Roads, and Sector New
York including deployments to Hurricanes Katrin, Sandy, and Irma. He also served the active component
for at total of six years in Sector Delaware Bay and Marine Safety Team Morehead City (now MSD Ft.
Macon).
Jake is a 1997 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville and holds a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Environmental Science. He has been married to his wife Susan for 22 years, they have two
children Garrett and Claire, and reside in Unionville, PA.
Officer at Marine Safety Unit Savannah Georgia. He joined the national CWOA and local Philadelphia
Chapter in 2016 where he has helped organize and participate in several service projects to assist the
local community. In 2018 he became a plank owner in the Empire State Chapter while stationed at
Sector New York. In his full-time job, he serves as Business Development Manager Specialty Hazards –
Hangars & Munitions for Det-Tronics. Prior to being selected as a Chief Warrant Officer, Jake was a
Chief Marine Science Technician at Sector Hampton Roads.
CWO Elks enlisted in the Coast Guard Reserve in June 2001 and has had reserve assignments at the
Atlantic Strike Team, Sector Baltimore, Sector Delaware Bay, Sector Hampton Roads, and Sector New
York including deployments to Hurricanes Katrin, Sandy, and Irma. He also served the active component
for at total of six years in Sector Delaware Bay and Marine Safety Team Morehead City (now MSD Ft.
Macon).
Jake is a 1997 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Asheville and holds a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Environmental Science. He has been married to his wife Susan for 22 years, they have two
children Garrett and Claire, and reside in Unionville, PA.
CWOA Vice-President of Reserve Affairs
CWO2 Carol Smith
I am a life-time member of the CWOA and look forward to supporting the Vice President of Reserve Affairs office. In June 2022 I became the Reserve Program Specialist at CG Headquarters in the Office of Shore Forces, CG-741. Our office oversees the Shore Forces Reserve Management Plan, applicable to Sectors with 30 or more reservists. I enjoy staying current with reserve policies and work with Reserve Personnel Management (RPM) and all Headquarters staff with a reserve nexus.
