U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office
2703 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20593-7031


U.S. Coast Guard Museum
Coast Guard Academy - Waesche Hall
15 Mohegan Ave
New London, CT 06320-8100

Contacting us:  U.S.C.G. Historian's Office

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Master Chief Petty Officer Coast Guard Reserve William B. Adams

Master Chief Petty Officer Coast Guard - Reserve

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Master Chief Petty Officer Adams assumed the duties as the 9th Master Chief Petty Officer-Coast Guard Reserve on the 1st of October 2024, where his priorities include enhancing professional partnerships with senior leaders, improving the day-to-day operations for the Reserve workforce, and helping align Reserve capabilities to ensure our teams continue to have meaning impact. 

His prior assignment was as Sector Charleston Reserve Command Master Chief from May 1st, 2023, until September 30th, 2024, and as the Region 1 Supervisor for Coast Guard Recruiting Command from November 1st, 2023, until September 30th, 2024.

Master Chief Adams first enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in March of 1994 where he attended basic and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Upon graduation, he reported to his first unit in Lewisburg P.A, the 3rd/103rd Armor division. While in the Army, he deployed in support of operation "Enduring Freedom" in 2002, operation "Iraqi Freedom" in 2005 and was activated to assist during two State of Emergencies in 1996 and then in 2000.

Master Chief Adams began his Coast Guard career in the Shoreside Security department with Port Security Unit 307, serving from 2006 to 2012. During this time at PSU 307, he deployed in support of operation "Enduring Freedom" in 2008, operation "Unified Response" in 2010, and operation "New Dawn" in 2011. From there, his next duty assignment was at Coast Guard Reserve Unit Southern Command, where he supported joint exercises “Tradewinds” and “Integrated Advance”.  Then his journey would take him to Special Missions Training Center, in Camp Lejeune, NC prior to reporting to Coast Guard Recruiting Command in DC.

MCPO Adams is a graduate of the Chief Petty Officer Academy Reserve class XXXVI, and the Senior Enlisted Leadership Course 99 in New London, Conn. In addition, he's graduated from the Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education (SEJPME) courses I and II, a certified Master Training Specialist, firearms instructor, and completed Chiefs Call to Initiation in the spring of 2013. He is a certified Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training member and the former Chief of the Mess at Special Missions Training Center.

Some of MCPO Adams awards during his distinguished career include the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal with “O” device, Navy/Marine corps Achievement Medal, and Army Achievement Medal.