BRUCE BRUNI

Captain, USCG (Ret.)

National Vice President

2021

Bruce Bruni entered the U. S. Coast Guard on 13 July 1970, serving a year aboard USCGC Hamilton in the Engineering Division before attending Aviation Electrician A School at NAS Jacksonville in the fall of 1971.  As an AE3 he became a Search and Rescue aircrew member at Coast Guard Air Station Brooklyn and was discharged in October 1974.  In 1980 he enlisted in the U. S. Coast Guard Reserve as a Port Securityman serving at Station Niagara and Marine Safety Office Buffalo before receiving a direct commission as an Ensign in 1986.   

During his 37 years of total Coast Guard Service, he had deployed in 1990-1991 with Port Security Unit 301, in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and Operation Uphold Democracy to Haiti in 1994 and again in 2003-2004 as commanding officer of PSU 308 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

His other assignments include serving as the Ninth CG District's law enforcement liaison with the U. S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies that comprise the Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBET) along the eastern Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.  He became a plank owner in standing up first Maritime Security Operations Center (MSOC) at the Canadian MARLANT in Halifax.  He was later selected as the project lead for a quick reaction test (QRT) for the successful development of TTP in dealing with the underwater asymmetric threats against transiting high value assets.   His last assignment before retiring in 2011, was serving as Chief, Maritime Border Security at CG-531. 

Captain Bruni also completed 25 years of law enforcement service with the Amherst Police Department, a suburb of Buffalo, NY, where he retired as a Detective, after being recalled to active duty following the attacks of September 11, 2001.  Following his retirement from the Coast Guard, he was employed as a National Field Representative for the U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corp from 2012 to 2019, one of seven retired O-6s and the only Coast Guard officer overseeing the Navy League of the United States sponsored youth program. 

Among his personal awards are the Meritorious Service Award with "O" device, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals with "O" devices, and Navy/Marine Corp Commendation Medal, and two Coast Guard Achievement Medals. 

Bruce resides in the Winston Salem area of North Carolina and is married to Jeannie Bruni and has two adult children and six grandchildren.  He is a life member of the CGCVA since 1991 and is the Editor/Publisher of the Quarterdeck Log magazine and has served as a National Trustee since 2017.  He currently volunteers his time with the Davidson County Veterans Honor Guard, rendering graveside military honors for deceased veterans.