Captain Randy Meador is an Officer Candidate School graduate and his first assignment was as a logistics officer for the Polar Ice Breaker Reliability Improvement Project at Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific (MLC-PAC). In 1998 he was assigned to flight school at NAS Whiting Field near Pensacola, FL. He was then assigned to Air Station Elizabeth City, NC as an HH-60J pilot. During that tour, he was selected for the Aeronautical Engineering program and completed all of the associated training. In 2004, he transferred to Air Station Sitka, AK for a rewarding tour as Assistant Engineering Officer and duty standing HH-60J pilot. Following his Alaska tour, CAPT Meador transferred across country to serve as Engineering Projects Team Lead for the H-60 Product Line at the Aviation Logistics Center. He served as the project lead for the transition of the entire Coast Guard H-60 fleet from HH-60J’s to MH-60T’s. During this tour, he also volunteered as Deputy Logistics Section Chief for the disaster response in Haiti. CAPT Meador was selected for post graduate training for Acquisitions - Program Management and attended George Washington University in Washington, DC where he received a Master of Science in Project Management. After graduate school he served at Coast Guard Headquarters CG-9311, where he was the Deputy Project Manager for the C-130H Aviation Upgrade project, directly supporting all acquisition phases of the HC-130H upgrade program – a $690M Level I investment project. Most recently, CAPT Meador served as Executive Officer at Base Cleveland where he provided regional support to the entire Ninth Coast Guard District, encompassing all five Great Lakes and operational units from Duluth, MN to Massena, NY.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, four Coast Guard Achievement Medals and the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation.
CAPT Meador also has a Master of Science in Quality Systems Management from the National Graduate School, a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, an Associate of Science in Aviation Maintenance Management from Broward Community College, DHS Certification for Acquisition Professional Acquisition Program Manager - Level III, DHS Certification for Acquisition Professional Life Cycle Logistics Manager - Level II, ICS Logistics Section Chief Type 3; he holds civilian certification as a Project Management Professional and FAA licenses for Commercial Pilot Fixed Wing, Commercial Pilot Rotary Wing and Airframe/Power Plant Mechanic. He is married to CDR Donna M. Meador, USNR. Combined, they have six children and eleven grandchildren.
Commander Melissa Arles reported aboard Base Elizabeth City as the Executive Officer in July 2019.
Commander Arles was born in White Plains, NY. She graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Her first assignment was Engineer Officer in Training onboard USCGC ALERT, home ported in Astoria, OR. She served at Civil Engineering Unit Miami, FL as a Facilities Planner and Construction Manager, and at Training Center (TRACEN) Yorktown as the Assistant Facilities Engineer.
Following her assignment at TRACEN Yorktown, Commander Arles was assigned to the Shore Infrastructure Logistics Center in Norfolk, VA where she served as the AFC-43 program manager and budget coordinator. From 2016 to 2019, she served as the Facilities Engineer at Base Alameda, CA.
Commander Arles holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the George Washington University. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Commander Arles’s personal awards include FY17 Contracting & Procurement Enterprise Innovative Contracting Team award (for work on Base Kodiak BOSS TEB), 2014 Engineer of the Year from the Society of American Military Engineers Hampton Roads Post, a Meritorious Service Medal, three Commendation Medals, and a Commandant’s Letter of Commendation.
Commander Arles is the proud wife of Mr. Anthony Arles of Seaford, DE and mother of Tara (4 months).
Master Chief Delbert Lofing assumed the duties as the Command Master Chief at Base Elizabeth City, NC May 23, 2018. He began his career with the U.S. Coast Guard in the spring of 1995. Upon graduating from recruit training in Cape May, NJ, MCPO Lofing was assigned to Coast Guard Cutter WOODRUSH in Sitka, AK. He reached the role of Leading Seaman before heading to MK “A” School in May of 1996. After graduating in August, he reported to Coast Guard Cutter LONG ISLAND, in Monterey, CA. After 2 years as the auxiliary machinery petty officer, MCPO Lofing transferred to Coast Guard Station (sm) Siuslaw River, Florence, OR. There, he advanced to 2nd Class Petty Officer in 1999 and was the senior engineer at the station. 2002 saw MCPO Lofing transfer to Coast Guard Cutter DORADO, Crescent City, CA as the AEPO. December of 2003, he advanced to MK1 and received orders to Loran Station Fallon, NV as the EPO. MCPO Lofing advanced to MKC in 2008 and was selected for Advanced Computer Engineering and Technology, allowing him to spend 2 years in Ogden, UT at Weber State University; where he completed his Associate’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. Finishing his advanced education in 2010, he was transferred to Guam as the EPO of Coast Guard Cutter ASSATEAGUE. Completing an extended tour in Guam and advancing to Senior Chief, he reported to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia in November 2013, as the maintenance assist team supervisor. Following PATFORSWA, MCPO Lofing transferred to Portsmouth, UK as the Detachment Supervisor of the United Kingdom Non-Reciprocal Engineering Exchange Program; where he supervised 39 USCG MKs, EMs, and DCs that were integrated with the UK Royal Navy; as well as, advancing to Master Chief in November 2016,
MCPO Lofing is a proud graduate of the Chief Petty Officer Academy and the Senior Enlisted Leadership Course (SELC), and a member of the Chief Petty Officer Association.
MCPO Lofing’s military awards include: Meritorious Service Medal, CG Commendation Service Medals; three CG Achievement Medals; Global War on Terror Service Medal; two National Defense Service Medals; CG Sea Service Ribbon; DOT Outstanding Unit Award; seven CG Good Conduct Medals; in addition to other unit awards.