St. Regis native builds career as Coastie
How does a St. Regis graduate, landlocked by majestic mountains, end up earning sea legs while serving in a maritime branch of the military? For recently promoted Chief Warrant Officer Tyler Goss, from Haugan, it all started with a trip to the Pacific coast and from there it was amplified by his conviction for civic duty.
“To be part of something bigger than myself,” remarked Goss. “I joined the Coast Guard at a time when our nation was in the beginning part of our global war on terrorism. So, the patriotic side of me drew me toward military service to my country, and my passion for life-saving, and public service, drew me to the Coast Guard specifically.”
Looking back, he added, “It also helped that I toured Station Yaquina Bay, Oregon when I was in eighth grade with Mr. Feasel and the search and rescue alarm went off and station personnel flew out the door and raced off to save a life. That was the beginning for me.”
During that formative middle school trip, Goss observed firsthand the Coast Guard's service motto: Semper paratus. Always ready.
After leaving Mineral County and enlisting in the Coast Guard in 2005 Goss has been stationed across the country with various command posts, and new adventures at each waterfront. He began at USCGC Alex Haley, in Kodiak, Alaska. Then while at USCG Station Neah Bay, in Washington in 2007, he met his wife, Heather. As newlyweds, they headed north to Alaska, then on to Wisconsin, and back to Alaska again before swapping cold waters for a hotter climate and being based in Corpus Christi, Texas. Goss is currently enjoying the Golden Coast at USCG Station Vallejo, in Vallejo, California.
He shared, “Each unit provides unique challenges and opportunities. So, it’s hard to pick just one place because each spot has been so different, and different parts of my family’s life. For example, in Neah Bay, I met Heather, my future wife. In Seward, we got the opportunity to learn to be a married couple and learn how to live life together. In Sturgeon Bay, we bought our first house and had both of our kids.”
Goss continued, “With Petersburg, Alaska I had a newborn and a 3-year-old. It's such a remote island with only one flight a day that it makes things hard to get things in and out. Then being on a cutter made it extremely challenging because I had to leave my family for periods at a time. But this experience allowed my family to develop values and strength that we never knew existed. We grew so strong during that period because of all the different things we had to overcome as a family.”
Relocating down south, Goss said, “In Texas, we took a chance on a location that we never knew we would come to love. Our kids started school there and got really involved in sports. So, each place holds a special place in our family’s story.”
“As far as my favorite job,” Goss contemplated. “Being the commanding officer of Station Vallejo has been the greatest honor of my career. I have such a great crew here. They are truly the finest men and women I have had the privilege of working with.”
Over the 19 years of his Coast Guard career, he’s held numerous positions. He explained, “I was the first lieutenant on Cutter Anacapa, where I was responsible for the overall maintenance of the ships, boats and buildings.”
Then Goss served as the operations petty officer on Cutter Mustang and at USCG Station Sturgeon Bay where he managed operations. He also worked as the ready for operations inspector, with duties ensuring 13 units followed Coast Guard policy and federal laws.
And now, Goss is the current commanding officer of USCG Station Vallejo, where he supervises every facet of this unit from search and rescue to law enforcement and training.
Goss detailed, “For all the primary duties I have explained and collateral duties, and command assignments, as the CO, those members now report to me. So, as you can see, for me to get to these positions I have worked for the last 19 years to get here.”
At boot camp he was considered an E1, then he became a chief petty officer, and finally Goss applied to become a chief warrant officer. He said, “Once I became a CWO I am no longer an enlisted member but now part of the officer corp.”
Day to day, his responsibilities vary. Goss acknowledged, “I like to spend as much time on the water with my crew as possible doing training and missions. But most of the time younger BMs get to run and execute search and rescue, law enforcement cases, and training operations.”
Now he spends a lot of time behind the scenes overseeing the administration of how a Coast Guard unit operates.
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