Matthew Deneke grew up in north-central Kansas. Shortly after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, beginning what has become a distinguished career spanning more than 26 years.

 

Following enlistment, Matthew attended basic training at Cape May, New Jersey. After graduating from boot camp, he transferred to Yorktown, Virginia, where he attended Machinery Technician “A” School. There, he developed technical expertise in small boats, diesel engines, hydraulics, and air conditioning and refrigeration (AC&R).

 

His first assignment afloat was aboard the USCGC Reliance (WMEC-615), a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. As a crewmember, Matthew helped maintain the ship’s propulsion systems, engines, and HVAC equipment. During his time aboard Reliance, the crew conducted fisheries enforcement operations throughout the Northeast and migrant interdiction operations in the Windward Passage off the coasts of Haiti and Cuba.

 

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Reliance immediately deployed to New York Harbor, where the crew established security zones and supported maritime security operations. The cutter later deployed off the coast of Virginia to conduct security boardings. This period marked a significant transformation for the Coast Guard as it transitioned from the Department of Transportation to the newly established Department of Homeland Security.

 

After completing three years aboard Reliance and advancing to Machinery Technician Second Class (MK2/E-5), Matthew was transferred across the country to the USCGC Fir (WLB-213), a 225-foot seagoing buoy tender stationed in Astoria, Oregon. The crew maintained aids to navigation from Washington State to California. Operating near the Columbia River Bar—one of the most challenging and hazardous maritime environments in the United States—made buoy operations both demanding and dangerous.

 

After two years aboard Fir and advancing to Machinery Technician First Class (MK1/E-6), Matthew returned to Yorktown, Virginia, where he joined the Coast Guard’s Standardization Team. In this role, he traveled throughout the country inspecting the Coast Guard’s 41-foot and 25-foot small boats, ensuring vessels were properly maintained and that lifesaving equipment met required inspection standards.

 

The success of the program led Coast Guard Headquarters to expand the standardization concept to small boats carried aboard cutters throughout the Coast Guard. Matthew helped develop policy and doctrine to establish and enforce these standards nationwide. He spent four years serving on the Standardization Team before transferring to Portsmouth, Virginia.

Matthew was then assigned to the USCGC Chock (WYTL-65005), a 65-foot harbor tug, where he was selected to serve as the Engineer in Charge. Shortly after arriving, he was selected for advancement to Chief Petty Officer (E-7) and transferred to the USCGC Cypress (WLB-210), a 225-foot buoy tender stationed in Pensacola, Florida.

 

While aboard Cypress, Matthew was selected to serve as the Senior Enlisted Advisor, also known as the Chief of the Boat, directly advising and reporting to the commanding officer. The crew maintained aids to navigation from Key West, Florida, to Galveston, Texas, as well as throughout Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

After three years aboard Cypress, Matthew transferred to the USCGC Scioto (WTL-65006), a 65-foot river tender with an accompanying 100-foot barge stationed in Keokuk, Iowa. There, the crew maintained aids to navigation on the Mississippi River from Dubuque, Iowa, to St. Louis, Missouri.

 

After approximately two years aboard Scioto, Matthew was selected for advancement to Machinery Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (MKCS/E-8) and transferred to Marine Safety Unit Portland, Oregon. Once again, he was selected to serve as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the commanding officer.

It was in Portland that Matthew entered the Coast Guard’s Prevention and Marine Inspection field. He began conducting inspections of domestic and foreign vessels operating in American ports and engaged in commercial maritime operations.

 

After two years in Portland, Matthew was selected for commissioning as a Chief Warrant Officer (MSSE2/CWO2) and transferred to Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur, Texas. There, he rapidly earned qualifications as a foreign vessel inspector specializing in gas, tank, and chemical vessels, as well as becoming qualified as a domestic barge inspector.

In Port Arthur, Matthew ensured foreign vessels entering American ports maintained proper lifesaving and firefighting equipment and complied with applicable safety and regulatory requirements before conducting cargo operations. During this assignment, he also joined the Chief Warrant Officer Association, Sabine Chapter.

 

After three years in Port Arthur, Matthew transferred to Marine Safety Unit Texas City, where his area of responsibility includes the major ports and cargo facilities of Galveston and Freeport, Texas. While stationed there, he earned his Foreign Passenger Vessel Inspector qualification, allowing him to inspect cruise ships operating from the Port of Galveston.

 

Matthew also became actively involved with the Republic of Texas Chief Warrant Officers Association. He was selected to serve as Treasurer and completed a two-year term before being selected as Vice President. Following the retirement of the chapter’s previous president, Gary Sanchez, Matthew was selected to serve as the current Chapter President.

 

Matthew has now served at Marine Safety Unit Texas City for four years and recently received a return assignment that will allow him to complete the final four years of his Coast Guard career there. He currently serves as a Marine Safety and Security Specialist Chief Warrant Officer 3 (MSSE3/CWO3) and is expected to compete for promotion to MSSE4/CWO4 next summer.

 

Throughout his career, Matthew has earned six Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and one Coast Guard Letter of Commendation Ribbon, in addition to numerous personal and unit awards and ribbons.

 

Matthew currently has 26 years of service, including approximately 12.5 years at sea and nine years in the marine inspection and prevention field. His career has taken him across the United States and throughout the Caribbean, where he has served as an engineer, afloat leader, senior enlisted advisor, marine inspector, and Chief Warrant Officer.

 

Outside of his Coast Guard career, Matthew has been married to his wife, Jackie Deneke of Beloit, Kansas, for 21 years. Together, they have three children: Dalton, 19; Mason, 16; and Makenzie, 10.

 

As Matthew approaches the completion of a 30-year Coast Guard career, he remains committed to the service, the maritime community, his fellow Chief Warrant Officers, and the Coast Guard families and communities he has served throughout his career.