CDR Megan Drewniak

Commander Drewniak is currently serving as the Prevention Department Head at Sector Northern New England in South Portland, Maine. Prior to assuming those duties, she served as the Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Toledo, Ohio, beginning in June 2018.

In May 2016, Commander Drewniak reported to Malmo, Sweden as the Coast Guard Liaison Officer/Lecturer to the World Maritime University (WMU). WMU is a postgraduate maritime university founded in 1983 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations that focuses on postgraduate maritime and oceans education, professional training and research, while building global capacity and promoting sustainable development.

In June 2014, Commander Drewniak reported to Sector Miami, Florida, as a Senior Investigating Officer, responsible for the 7th busiest Investigations Division in the country with an oversight of nearly 250 marine casualty investigations and enforcement cases each year. During this assignment she was selected as the recipient of both the 2016 Captain John G. Witherspoon Inspirational Leadership award and Military Times Coast Guard Service Member of the Year. From 2011 to 2014, she was assigned to Sector Northern New England, South Portland, Maine, as the Waterways Management Division Chief, where she directed waterways management activities for 200 waterways in a four-state area of responsibility covering 5,100 square miles including an international border with Canada. She managed two Aids-to-Navigation Teams (ANT), one Station/ANT, three 65-foot icebreaking harbor tugs, and one 140 foot icebreaker. She was directly responsible for the Domestic icebreaking mission in three states, maritime planning efforts to include oversight of high-profile bridge replacement projects, 425 marine events, and the deployment of the first-ever hydrokinetic tidal generator in U.S. waters. Commander Drewniak simultaneously served as the Port State Control Branch Supervisor, Auxiliary Coordinator for 503 Auxiliary personnel, and a U.S. Flag State Marine Inspector.

Commander Drewniak served as the School Chief of the Leadership and Management School at the Leadership Development Center in New London, Connecticut, from 2008 to 2011. She spent four years as the Facility Inspection Branch Chief and Patrol Boat Manager at Sector San Francisco from 2004 to 2008 where she conducted law enforcement missions as a qualified Boarding Team Member, oversaw and completed vessel, facility, container, transfer monitor, and explosive load-out safety and security inspections and served as Patrol Boat Manager, and Command Duty Officer.

Commander Drewniak was raised in Jamestown, Rhode Island. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Rhode Island in 2002 and a Master of Science in Quality Systems Management with a Six Sigma Greenbelt Certification in 2008 from the New England College of Business. She graduated from Officer Candidate School in 2004.

CDR Drewniak’s personal awards include two Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medals, six Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the NOAA Special Achievement Medal, CG Volunteer Service Medal, three Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, and various other unit and team awards.