Charley L. Diaz

Charley L. Diaz (born December 12, 1959) is a retired United States Coast Guard Captain who served for 30 years in the United States Coast Guard from 1982-2012. Diaz is best known for leading the crew of the USCGC Sherman (WHEC-720) in the largest maritime drug bust in U.S. history. The seizure of the Panamanian freighter Gatun off the coast of Panama in March 2007 netted nearly 20 tons of cocaine worth an estimated $600M.

Diaz was also the first Hispanic American to command a High Endurance Cutter (the U.S. Coast Guard’s largest cutter class). Diaz officially retired from the U.S. Coast Guard on June 30, 2012. He is an Homeland Security consultant in the greater Washington, DC area.

Background and Education

Diaz was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and is the son of Dr. Tony C. Diaz, Ed.D. and Mrs. Maria Albeza (Barrera) Diaz. His father is a retired U.S. Navy Chief, a Vietnam War veteran, and an elected School Board Member of the Corpus Christi Independent School District. His family is well established in Corpus Christi and his parents have been educating the children of South Texas for the past 50 years. Diaz is a 1978 graduate of Mary Carroll High School in Corpus Christi, TX. In 1982, Diaz graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, where he was captain of the cadet drill team. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree (with honors) from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a diploma (with distinction) from the U.S. Naval War College. He also completed the DHS “Executive Leaders Program” in 2012 at the Center for Defense and Homeland Security, Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. Diaz was a visiting scholar at the Brookings Institute in Washington, DC from 2004-2005. He is also a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City.

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: the 210-foot USCGC Active (WMEC-618) (WMEC-618) in New Castle, NH, from 1982-1984; Commanding Officer the 82-foot Patrol Boat USCGC Point Monroe (WPB-82353) in Freeport, TX from 1984-1986; Commanding Officer of the Surface Effect Ship USCGC Petrel (WSES-4) in Key West, FL, from 1990-1992; Executive Officer aboard the 270-foot USCGC Spencer (WMEC-905) from 1997-1999; Commanding Officer of the 270-foot USCGC Bear (WMEC-901) in Portsmouth, VA from 2002-2004; and Commanding Officer of the 378-foot USCGC Sherman (WHEC-720) in Alameda, CA from 2005-2007.

Motor Vessel Gatun drug seizure

On March 18, 2007, Diaz led the crew of the USCGC SHERMAN in the largest maritime drug bust in U.S. history. The seizure of the motor vessel M/V Gatun with 765 bales of cocaine (nearly 20 tons) was worth an estimated $600M. Operating on a tip from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the working closely with Panamanian officials, the takedown occurred just west of the Panama Canal entrance. SHERMAN was working for the Joint Interagency Task Force South at the time. The cocaine was hidden in two shipping containers. The drugs were later offloaded in Alameda, CA where they were transferred to the DEA and transported via two Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft to Florida for destruction. The celebrated seizure made national and international headlines.

Senior Staff Assignments

Diaz served as the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Chief of Staff in Alameda, CA from 2009-2012 where he served three Area Commanders: VADM David Pekoske, VADM Jody Breckenridge, and VADM Manson K. Brown. From March 2008 - May 2009, he also served as Chief of Staff (aka Executive Director) of the new U. S. Coast Guard Force Readiness Command (FORCECOM) for RADM Tim Sullivan. Prior to reporting to Pacific Area, Diaz headed the Coast Guard’s International Affairs Directorate in Washington, DC reporting to the Deputy Commandant for Operations, and often working directly for the Commandant, ADM Thad W. Allen.

Capitol Hill and 9/11

Diaz spent three years working on Capitol Hill from 1999-2002. 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-IL). 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. Diaz was also instrumental in pushing legislation to create the new Department of Homeland Security and establish the Coast Guard as an official member of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Under Chairman John Mica (R-FL), 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).

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 and serving as the Pacific Area Chief of Staff responsible for overseeing the execution of one half of all Coast Guard operations. He is President and CEO of Diaz LLC, Diaz & Associates Consulting.

Personal

Diaz resides in Gaithersburg, Maryland with his wife Elizabeth Anne (McEvoy) Diaz whom he married in April 2001. They have four children.

Awards and decorations

His personal Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard include the Legion of Merit (2), the Meritorious Service Medal (4), the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (3), the Coast Guard Achievement Medal and the Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon.

Command at Sea insignia

Cutterman Insignia

Commandant Staff Badge

Legion of Merit with 1 gold award star

Meritorious Service Medal with 3 gold award stars and Operational Distinguishing Device

Coast Guard Commendation Medal with 2 gold award stars and Operational Distinguishing Device

Coast Guard Achievement Medal with Operational Distinguishing Device

Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon

Diaz’s civilian recognition includes the White House Executive Office of the President Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Golden Eagle Award, the Department of Homeland Security Secretary’s Team Award presented by Secretary Michael Chertoff, the Neils P. Tomsen Innovation Award, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Recognition Award, the NOAA General Council’s Award and two Congressional Record entries,. In 2012, Diaz was named an “honorary Admiral” in the Republic of Texas Navy by the Governor of Texas.

References

• "Captain Charley L. Diaz" (PDF). United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 26 January 2012.

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