Ancient Mariner

This award is presented to the Coast Guard Cutterman on active duty holding the earliest designation of permanent cutterman in recognition of a spirited kinship with the porpoise and its kin as fellow masters of the ocean realm while in the pursuit of time-honored Coast Guard duties.

Duties and Responsibilities

Award recipients are charged with keeping a close watch to ensure that the sea-service traditions are continued and that the time honored reputation of the Coast Guard is maintained. In their capacity as Officer or Enlisted Ancient Mariner, recipients should be invited by area, district, group, and unit commanders to attend and/or take part in any official ceremony which involves our seagoing community. In addition to cutter commissioning, decommissioning, Dining-Ins/Outs, change of commands and "oldest cutter" ceremonies, recipients should also participate in public affairs and public events which portray our rich heritage. Recipients should notify Commandant (CG-751) by message or letter, at least annually, listing the events attended in their capacity as Ancient Mariner.

Thirteenth Current Ancient Mariner - Admiral Robert Papp

Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr. assumed the duties of the 24th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard on May 25, 2010. He leads the largest component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), comprised of 42,000 active duty, 8,200 Reserve, 8,000 civilian and 31,000 volunteer Auxiliarists.

The Coast Guard is “Semper Paratus” – Always Ready – to use its distinctive blend of military, humanitarian and law enforcement capabilities to save lives and property at sea, protect and maintain our ports and maritime transportation system, secure our borders, respond to natural disasters, protect our marine environment and defend our Nation. The Coast Guard is also America’s oldest continuous seagoing service and one of the Nation’s five armed services. We trace our history back to August 4th, 1790, when the first Congress authorized the construction of ten vessels to enforce tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling. Our people are committed to the Coast Guard’s core values of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty.

As a flag officer, Admiral Papp served as Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area, where he was operational commander for all U.S. Coast Guard missions within the eastern half of the world and provided support to the Department of Defense; as the Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard and Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Headquarters; as Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District, with responsibilities for Coast Guard missions on the Great Lakes and Northern Border; and as Director of Reserve and Training where he was responsible for managing and supporting 13,000 Coast Guard Ready Reservists and all Coast Guard Training Centers.

Admiral Papp has served in six Coast Guard Cutters, commanding four of them: RED BEECH, PAPAW, FORWARD, and the training barque EAGLE. He also served as commander of a task unit during Operation ABLE MANNER off the coast of Haiti in 1994, enforcing United Nations Sanctions. Additionally, his task unit augmented U.S. Naval Forces during Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY.

He is a 1975 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy. Additionally, he holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College and a Master of Science in Management from Salve Regina College.

Admiral Papp is the 13th Gold Ancient Mariner of the Coast Guard. The Gold Ancient Mariner is an honorary position held by an officer with over ten years of cumulative sea duty who has held the qualification as a Cutterman longer than any other officer.

Admiral Papp is a native of Norwich, Conn. He is married to the former Linda Kapral of East Lyme, Conn. Admiral and Mrs. Papp have three daughters, and one granddaughter.

Eleventh Silver Ancient Mariner - Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate Lloyd Pierce

Master Chief Boatswains Mate Lloyd Pierce is a native of Toms River, N.J. He entered the United States Coast Guard and attended Basic Training at Cape May, N.J. in January of 1982. He assumed the duties of Command Master Chief of the United States Coast Guard Academy in June of 2011.

MCPO Pierce, has served nearly 15 years at sea and earned his Officer in Charge Certification as a Quartermaster in 1997. His sea duty includes tours aboard USCGC RED OAK Gloucester City, N.J., USCGC LIPAN Key West, Fla., USCGC STEADFAST, St Petersburg, Fla., USCGC SHERMAN, Alameda, Ca., Executive Petty Officer USCGC MATINICUS, Cape May, N.J., Officer in Charge USCGC POINT FRANKLIN Cape May, N.J., Plankowner Officer in Charge USCGC MAKO Cape May, N.J., and Officer in Charge USCGC SEAHAWK, Carrabelle, Fla. Shore tours have included PACAREA Training Team One, Alameda Ca., separate tours as Company Commander and Battalion Commander at USCG Recruit TRACEN Cape May, N.J., Command Master Chief Joint Interagency Task Force South, Key West, Fla., and Command Master Chief Coast Guard District Eight New Orleans, La.

MCPO Pierce is a graduate of Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy Class XXXIV (1995), United States Army Sergeant’s Major Academy Class 54 (2004), and National Defense University Keystone course for Senior NCO’s (2006). He holds an Associates in Applied Science degree in Administrative/Management studies from Excelsior College. MCPO Pierce’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, 2 Meritorious Service Medals, 3 Coast Guard Commendation Medals, 7 Coast Guard Achievement Medals, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon, 9 Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals, and numerous service and unit awards. MCPO Pierce holds a permanent Cutterman’s pin, Officer in Charge Afloat pin, Company Commander Insignia and Gold (Command) and Silver Badge insignias.

Prior Ancient Mariners