​Captain Michael C. Sparks, U.S. Navy Chief
Combatant Modernization Branch
​Surface Warfare Division (OPNAV N86)

• Served as Sea Cadet (PO3) in Dahlgren Division
  • ​​CO: LCDR Henry Mooberry
    
• ​Commissioned through NROTC at The Citadel in 1998
  
• ​Afloat commands include USS DEXTROUS (MCM-13) and USS MOMSEN (DDG-92)
  
• ​Currently serving as head of branch for planning modernization of all Navy surface combatant ships
  
• ​Prospective Commodore of the Navy Coastal Riverine Force
  

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Vincent W. Patton, III
retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard in the United States

• Former James M. Hannan cadet
• Walked into Broadhead Naval Armory in 1968 wanting to be a cadet
  
• Honorably discharged from the cadets in 1972
  
• "By joining the Sea Cadets , I started on my road to career development as a citizen and as a leader for 28 years" In Sea Cadets, "I learned the ropes".
  
• A native of Detroit, Michigan, Patton retired from the U.S. Coast Guard 1 November 2002, after serving 30 years of active duty.
  
• He became the first African American selected as the service's senior-most enlisted ranking position as the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard in 1998
  
• His career included staff and operational assignments both afloat and ashore throughout the United States, and a joint military service assignment in Cuba and Haiti.
  

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LT Lauren Dufrene, USCG

• ​​Joined Sea Cadets at age 13, advanced to PO1​
• ​Accepted to US Coast Guard Academy; graduated in 2003
  
• ​Circumnavigated the globe in first afloat tour after commissioning
  
  • ​​Sailed through major world canals
    
  • Interdicted pirates off African coast
    
  • ​Trained with Russian Coast Guard
    
• ​Most recently assigned to the Fast Response Cutter Acquisition Project at Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC
  
  • ​​Naval engineer in design of new 154' patrol boat class for the Coast Guard
    

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CDR Holly Harrison

• ​Joined Sea Cadets at age 13; promoted to CPO in Maryland Corsairs Squadron
• Graduated from Coast Guard Academy in 1995
  
• ​First woman in USCG to earn the Bronze Star; awarded in 2003 for service during OIF
• Selected as White House Fellow and assigned to NASA
  
  • ​​Served as Sr Advisor to Administrator and Deputy Chief of Staff
    
• ​Recently took command of USCGC NORTHLAND; her second command afloat assignment
  

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​LT Kate Ford

• Joined NSCC at age 10, advancing to PO1 in the League Cadets and Chief Petty Officer in the Sea Cadets
• Graduated from Naval Academy (with Merit) in 2007
  
• Completed Flight School and qualified as pilot in Sep 2008
  
• Completed P-3 flight training in Sep 2009; assigned to VP-9 at MCAB Kaneohe, Hawaii
  
• Qualified Plane Commander in Aug 2011, and as Mission Commander in Feb 2012
  
• Currently operating as Plane Commander and Mission Commander of a 13-person tactical aircrew deployed in support of Libyan and NATO operations, and anti-piracy operations