NATIONAL PRESIDENT​
2025
BRUCE BRUNI
Captain, USCG (Ret.)
Email: president@cgcva.org
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.
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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.
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In 2025 Bruce received the Donals Kneip Award for Distinquiched Effort from PNP Joe Prince.
National Vice President
TIMOTHY MOWBRAY, D.M.
Email: vicepresident@cgcva.org
Tim started his Coast Guard service in June of 1968 at Cape May, New Jersey, Delta Company. After boot camp he was transferred to Coast Guard Group Southwest Harbor Maine. He served as a boat coxswain for routine and search and rescue missions. He also served as lightkeeper on Whitehead Island and the remote light of Petit Manan off the coast of Maine.
After his duty on the remote lighthouse, he requested a transfer to Coast Guard Group Duluth Minnesota, but was instead sent to the USCGC Castle Rock (WHEC 383) in Portland, Main in September, 1970. He served as a Boatswain's Mate Second Class (BM2) and was
deployed to Squadron Three, Vietnam, in 1971. After his Coast Guard service, he used his full GI Bill education benefit to complete a BA, MS and a Doctor of Healthcare Administration degree.
Tim spent thirty years as an administrator in mainline healthcare, hospitals, outpatient and specialty care organizations in Minnesota and Texas. He completed his last 15 years of work as CEO of a medical research and training organization specializing in Orthopedics and
Spine care. He also founded a specialized management consulting group that worked to assist employers to hire the best candidates for high level positions.
He has retired, sold his business and lives quietly in the woods of NW Wisconsin with his wife Sue and Golden Retriever named for his good
friend Murphy.
National Secretary
Mark Planitz, USCG (Ret.)
Email: mplanitz@cgcva.org
Master Chief Mark Planitz joined the US Coast Guard in 1984, graduating from TRACEN Cape May. He attended Yeoman "A" school at TRACEN Petaluma. In addition to performing his yeoman duties he qualified as Hazardous Cargo Boarding Officer, Pollution Response Investigator, Boat Coxswain and Command Career Information Specialist.
In 1988 he married ReNee, who was an Operating Room Technician with the Army Reserves. They both received PCS orders to Guam, shortly after their wedding.
In 1999 Mark was assigned as Administrative Officer aboard USCGC Sherman, where he helped enforce United Nations sanctions against Iraq, during eight high-profile boardings in the Persian Gulf and was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
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While on board CGC Sherman, he completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and Communications with High Honors from Charter Oak State College.
In 2004, Mark was elected President, Chief Petty Officers Association, Mid-Atlantic Chapter and also attended the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, wining the Surface Navy Assocition Naval Heritage Award for best essay.
In 2006 Mark was selected for the Coast Guard's Performance Technology Advance Degree Program and earned a masters degree in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University.
Mark retired in 2010 with many commendations and achievement medals and awards.
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He lives in Paducah, Kentucky with his wife ReNee and their
children Tara and Adam Planitz.
National Treasurer
Since 2009
Gary Sherman
Storekeeper 2nd Class
(Short-timer) ​
EMAIL: info@cgcva.org
Gary Sherman is a former U. S. Coast Guard 2nd Class Storekeeper and served from 1969 to 1973.
He was elected as the Association's National Secretary at the 2009 convention in Reno, NV and National Secretary/Treasurer at the 2011 convention at Herndon, Virginia. In 2025 he split the role and was elected National Treasurer.
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In 1969 he joined the USCG and was assigned to Recruit Company Papa 76, in Cape May, NJ. In 1970, his first assignment following graduation from Storekeeper A School was to the USCGC CASTLE ROCK (WHEC 383). He sailed with the Castle Rock in a 1971 SQUADRON THREE deployment and remained on board until the turnover of the "Rock" to the South Vietnamese Navy on 21 December, 1971, in Saigon, Republic of Vietnam and was subsequently authorized to wear the Navy/Marine Corp Combat Action Ribbon.
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Gary claims three reasons for joining the Coast Guard:
1. To get the GI Bill for college.
2. To get stationed close to home on Lake Erie.
3. To stay the hell out of Vietnam.
He got the GI Bill, never got to Lake Erie and got
an all expenses paid trip to Vietnam.
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Gary had three cousins who were serving in the the Coast Guard prior to his enlistment. His cousin Mike Sherman, left the Navy and joined the Coast Guard and was sent to S.E.R.E training and then assigned to the CGC Pt. Welcome, immediately after the friendly fire incident in 1966. His twin cousins Steve and Wayne Sherman entered the Coast Guard in 1968 and served primarily in the CG 9th District (Lake Erie, by the way). All three cousins retired from the Coast Guard.
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Since his Coast Guard Service, Gary earned a BA in Business Administration (Accounting) from Capital University at Columbus, Ohio in 1977, and earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) also from Capital University in 1982. Until his recent retirement, in 2018, he had been self-employed, for the previous thirty years, as a Principal Agent and Registered Representative for Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. He now lives in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Janie and his daughter and son-in-law and two grandsons who live nearby.
In 2021 Gary received the CGCVA Don Kneip Award for Distinguished Effort from National President Stephen H. Petersen, MKCM USCG (Ret.)
LIST OF TRUSTEES
Terry O'Connell
Chairman
I started my military career by enlisting in the USNR in 1959 and attended recruit training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. In 1960, I transferred to the USCG as a Seaman Apprentice. I went to boot camp again, in Company B-44.
My first assignment was to the CGC McCulloch (WAVP-386) where I served nearly 5 years as a Quartermaster before transfer to the CGC Blackhaw (WAGL 390) in Hawaii. My next tour was on the CGC Basswood (WLB 388), also in Hawaii. I left the Basswood as a QM1 in 1967 for OCS and then, as a freshly minted Ensign, I was sent to the CGC Hornbeam (WLB 394) at Woods Hole, MA.
My next assignment was to Vietnam after completing COIN-SERE training at Alameda, CA. Upon arrival in DaNang, Republic of Vietnam, I was assigned to the XO position on CGC Pt. Orient (WPB 82319) followed by a transfer to Commanding Officer, CGC Point Arden (WPB 82309).
Waterways Management Branch.
My combat related awards include a Bronze Star Medal with V device, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.
As a Life Member of the CGCVA, I served two terms as National Trustee, two terms as National Vice President, under the leadership of National President Paul Scott, LM and a term as National Vice President with National President Steve Petersen, LM and then as National President.
Joseph "Joe" Prince, PNP
Joseph B. Prince joined the United States Coast Guard in 1989, retiring a Machinery Technician Chief Petty Officer. His first unit as a non-rate was the Cutter Polar Sea. After becoming an Machinery Tech he served at Group Monterey, CA Small Boat division, Small Boat Station Toledo, OH, Port Security Unit 309 in Port Clinton, OH, and the Cutters Sherman, in Alameda, CA and the Bristol Bay in Detriot, MI.
Joe was deployed to the Persian Gulf in 2001 aboard the Cutter Sherman and to Kuwait Naval Base with PSU 309 in 2008 in support of the Global War on Terrorism. He retired in 2017, to Arizona and is enjoying retired life.
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Joe was deployed to the Persian Gulf in 2001 aboard the Cutter Sherman and to Kuwait Naval Base with PSU 309 in 2008 in support of the Global War on Terrorism. He retired in 2017, to Arizona and is enjoying retired life.
My remaining career consisted of roles at CGC9 (oan); XO CGC Sweetgum (WLB 309); Commander, CG Group Santa Barbara and O in C PSD Santa Barbara; CO CGC Citrus (WLB 300), Administrative Division Officer, Support Center Kodiak; CGHQ (NP), CGHQ Chief (GNSR-2) and finally, retirement from CGD2, Chief, Aids to Navigation and
MICHAEL A. JOHNSON
SQUADRON THREE, VIETNAM
2nd Term
​Michael A. Johnson joined the U S. Coast Guard in 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War. He was 3rd Class Radioman, serving at Coast Guard Radio Station, Miami, FL and Coast Guard District 7, Miami and was honorably discharged in 1972. Mike served as Division Chief/Paramedic for the Fulton County Fire Department in Atlanta, Georgia for 25 years and resides in Newnan, GA.
Mike with deployed with U. S. Coast Guard Squadron Three, to the Republic of Vietnam on the CGC Bibb to participate in Operation Market Time.
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In 2025 Michael and his wife Sherry received the Donald Kneip Award for Distinquished Effort for their extremely generous financial contributions to the CGCVA, over many years!
LARRY JONES, USCG (Ret.)
2nd Term
Larry has served an a CGCVA Service Officer since he joined the Association in 2001.
He is an Accredited National Service Officer, working with Catholic War Veterans USA and is a Veterans Administration certified representative.
DAVID HENNESSEY
1st Term
Dave began his interest in the U. S. Coast Guard starting in 1979 at age 12, in his hometown, Syracuse, New York, when he took a boating safety course, taught by a couple "old salts". That was followed, at age 15 when local Coast Guard recruiters came to his high school. When he turned 17, he signed up for the Coast Guard Reserves and so mion was sent to TRACEN Cape May. In 1985 he attended Port Security "A" School and was stationed at CG Station Oswego.
In 1986, he was sent to Quantico, VA and trained with the USMC combat skills exercise and is a plankowner of the Port Security Units.
In 1990 he was deployed to Honduras Central America, Operation Ahus Tara with 65 other PSU members and a handful of TPSB (Raiders), operating off the USS Austin LPD-4. Later in 1990, with Sadam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, the PSU's were called to active duty, as a member of PSU 301 (Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo). He was deployed to Jubayl, Saudi Arabia, where we were subjected to nightly scud missile threats and alerts. PSU 301 boarded countless Dhows and escorted all surface ships into the Port of Jubayl. On 16 February, 1991 SCUD No. 66 exploded over the Port of Jubayl, narrowly missing an ammo ship at the pier.
While serving in the U. S. Coast Guard, Dave earned the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia & Kuwait), a Port Security Badge, Coxswain Badge and numerous other awards.
Dave retired from the Syracuse Police department as a detective with 20+ years and is now a national trainer, teaching responses to active assailant/shooter situations. And he is also a member of the Florida Living History Group and Historical Reenacting Group with emphasis on the history of the Coast Guard in WW2 and resides in Deland, Florida.
Appointees and Service Officers
ByLaws:
Gary Sherman
Convention Planning:
Michael Placencia, PNP, LM Chairman
Bruce Bruni
Michael A. Johnson, LM
Ed Semler
Ship's Store Manager:
Russ Allyson, LM
Nominating Chairman:
William Femia
SERVICE OFFICERS:
Larry Jones, LM
Thomas Huckelberry, LM
Membership Chairman:
Michael Placencia PNP
QDL Publisher/Editor
Bruce Bruni, LM
Historian:
Paul C. Scotti, PNP
Master-at-Arms:
Russell Weeks
Chaplain
Vince Patton, MCPO-USCG
Webmaster:
Gary Sherman, National Treasurer
CGCVA
AUXILIARY COMMITTEE
Barbara Weeks
Chairman
