Master Chief Ryan Doss assumed duties as the17th Coast Guard District Command Master Chief in May 2024, His primary responsibilities are to assist and advise the 17th District Commander on the impact of existing or proposed policy changes pertinent to the morale and general well-being of all Coast Guard members and their families in Alaska. Headquartered in Juneau, the Coast Guard’s forces in the 17th District total more than 2,500 active duty, reserve, civilian and auxiliary personnel, who employ 15 cutters, 52 boats, and 17 aircraft across an area of responsibility that includes the North Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea. The Coast Guard’s 17th District serves and safeguards the public, protects the environment and its resources, and defends the Nation’s interests in the Alaskan maritime region.
Prior to his current assignment he served as the Coast Guard’s Public Affairs Specialist Rating Force Master Chief and Rating Knowledge Manager, where he oversaw the training and development of the Coast Guard’s enlisted public affairs workforce and serves as the Coast Guard’s senior enlisted advisor to the Department of Defense on public affairs policy and training.
During his more than 24 years of Coast Guard service, he has been involved in: more than 50 hurricane response; the sinking of the U.S. container ship El Faro, the Refugio Oil Spill in Santa Barbara, California; the U.S. mass migration response during the Haitian government coup in 2004; and numerous high-profile national-level search and rescue, law enforcement and environmental hazard response operations.
His previous assignments include Coast Guard Liaison Officer to the Defense Information School, Fort Meade, MD; Assistant Public Affairs Officer for Coast Guard Atlantic Area, the 7th Coast Guard District and U.S. Coast Guard Academy; Public Affairs A School instructor, 7th Coast Guard District staff and Aids to Navigation Team New Orleans.
Master Chief Doss is a graduate of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy and Coast Guard Senior Enlisted Leadership Course. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal (2), Coast Guard Commendation Medal (3), Coast Guard Achievement Medal (3), Coast Guard Commandant’s Letter of Commendation (2), Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal (6), Armed Forces Service Medal and Humanitarian Service Medal, in addition to numerous other campaign and team awards.
A native Texan, he graduated from Elgin High School in 1999 prior to beginning his Coast Guard career in 2000.