Rear Admiral Mark E. Butt served as the Commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District headquartered in Seattle. He was responsible for all Coast Guard operations throughout the Pacific Northwest which includes protecting life and property, enforcing federal laws and treaties, preserving the living marine resources, and promoting national security. The Thirteenth District spans over the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana and includes more than 4,400 miles of coastline, 600 miles of inland waterways, and a 125 nautical mile international border with Canada.
In order to accomplish the Coast Guard’s missions in the Pacific Northwest, the Thirteenth District is home to approximately 1,746 active duty, 133 civilian, and 456 reserve personnel, three Sectors, two Air Stations, a Marine Safety Unit, a Maritime Force Protection Unit, 15 multi-mission small boat stations, four Aids to Navigation Teams, 12 patrol boats, and three Aids to Navigation Cutters. In addition to maintaining operational control over all Coast Guard activities in the district, Rear Admiral Butt is responsible for cultivating efficient and effective relationships with numerous other federal, state, and local agencies, elected officials, the tribal nations located in the Pacific Northwest, and with the Coast Guard’s international counterparts.
After graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1982, Rear Admiral Butt first served aboard the USCGC SUNDEW in Duluth, Minnesota, followed by Naval Flight Training in Pensacola, Florida. As a rotary-wing aviator, Rear Admiral Butt served operational tours of duty at Air Stations Borinquen, Puerto Rico; Astoria, Oregon; Port Angeles, Washington; and Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Rear Admiral Butt’s command tours include Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Group and Air Station Humboldt Bay in Northern California as well as the Commanding Officer of Air Station Detroit, Michigan. He served as the first Commanding Officer of the Asset Project Office (APO) located in and as the Commanding Officer of the Surface Forces Logistics Center (SFLC) in Baltimore, Maryland.
To supplement his operational background, Rear Admiral Butt has served as the chief of the Office of Aeronautical Engineering (CG-41), was the director at the Mission Support Integration Office (DCMS-5), served as the Assistant Commandant for Capability (CG-7), and most recently served as Deputy Commandant for Operational Policy and Capability located at Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC.
A native of Hartley, Iowa, Rear Admiral Butt holds a Master of Science in Aeronautical Structures from Purdue University. His military awards include the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, and the Coast Guard Achievement Medal.
Rear Admiral Butt retired on 1 July 2017.