Captain Clay D. McKinney

A native of York, Pennsylvania, Captain McKinney graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. He received his Master’s of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in December of 2006 from the University of Illinois. Captain McKinney is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of California and is a Certified Project Management Professional.

Captain McKinney reported to Base Miami Beach after serving as the Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit (CEU) Miami and Strategic Operations Product Line Manager where he was responsible for the $3.5 billion shore plant across the Seventh and Eighth U. S. Coast Guard Districts and enterprise-wide engineering support for nearly 2,500 shore facility assets across two Asset Lines. Previously he served as the U.S. Coast Guard’s military fellow at the RAND Corporation where he participated in wide ranging initiatives supporting DoD, NATO, DHS and the U. S. Coast Guard including work in strategic game development, implementing intermediate force capabilities, assessing Arctic capability gaps, facility colocation innovation and Deployable Specialized Forces mission analysis. Previously he served as the Facilities Engineer at Coast Guard Base Honolulu in Honolulu, Hawaii responsible for facility maintenance, environmental compliance and the fire and safety programs for a 42-acre Base with 15 tenant commands. He also served as Military Aide and emergency action officer for then Vice President Biden and Vice President Pence charged with assisting the Vice President in their role executing national command decisions and activating continuity of government programs. His assignments also include serving as the Commanding Officer of CEU Honolulu where he was responsible for field execution of the Civil Engineering and Environmental Programs in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Fourteenth District.

His other operational and staff tours include assignment as the Engineer Officer and Weapons Officer at Sector San Francisco, staff civil engineer at CEU Oakland and an assignment following graduation onboard CGC BOUTWELL (WHEC-719).

Captain McKinney’s military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and various team and unit awards.

Commander Rafael Batlle

CDR Rafael Batlle is currently the Executive Officer of Base Miami Beach, responsible for mission support activities that enable Coast
Guard operations conducted by the Seventh Coast Guard District and its subordinate units. Base Miami Beach and its six detachments have an
area of responsibility encompassing four Sectors, two Air Stations, and numerous other units and cutters throughout the state of Florida.
A graduate of Officer Candidate School, he first served aboard CGC TAMPA (WMEC 902) from 2008 to 2010, as the Electronics Material
Officer and Combat Information Center Officer, where he completed several Joint Inter Agency South patrols, responded to the Deep-Water
Horizon Spill, and provided disaster relief to Haiti following a major earthquake.

His follow-on assignment was to CGC BERTHOLF (WMSL 750) from 2010 to 2011, where he led efforts to obtain a Ready for Operations certification, conducted the first WMSL Alaskan Patrol, and participated in multiple counterdrug boardings seizing approximately 14.3 tons of cocaine. In 2011, CDR Batlle was assigned as Executive Officer of CGC MATINICUS (WPB 1315) homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Taking part in multiple operations designed to reduce the flow of drugs and migrants to the island, he led law enforcement operations seizing 3.9 tons of illicit narcotics and repatriated more than 300 migrants.

Assigned to the Pacific Area Command’s WMSL SUPPORT TEAM in 2013, he served as Deputy Officer in Charge where he spearheaded the establishment of a deployable team of 56 personnel; trained to support the modernized cutters in all aspects of crew augmentation, maintenance, and readiness preparations prior to sailing.

Deploying to the Arabian Gulf in 2016, he assumed command of CGC BARANOF (WPB 1318) homeported in Manama, Bahrain. Under the direction of Commander Destroyer Squadron 50 / Task Force 55, he partnered with coalition forces from Gulf Cooperation Council nations during Operations UNIFIED TRIDENT, SPARTAN KOPIS, and FALCON RESPONSE.

Assuming command of CGC HERIBERTO HERNANDEZ (WPC 1114) in San Juan, PR from 2017 to 2019, he led disaster relief operations across six islands following two Category 5 hurricanes of historic proportions.

Assigned as Assistant School Chief of Officer Candidate School from 2019 to 2022 he oversaw the initial officer training for more than 50% of the Coast Guard’s annual commissions entering service during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

His most recent tour at-sea was as Operations Officer of CGC KIMBALL (WMSL 756) in Honolulu, HI from 2022 to 2024. In this role, he planned and executed Bering Sea, Arctic, and Western Pacific patrols where he led the crew in SAR, Domestic Fisheries Enforcement, and multiple tense standoffs with Russian and Chinese surface action groups operating in and around U.S. exclusive economic zones.

CDR Batlle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from George Mason University, and has a Master’s Degree in National Security Studies from American Military University.

Master Chief Rebecca Wyness

Master Chief Rebecca (Becky) Wyness graduated from Coast Guard Recruit Training Center Cape May, NJ in August 1999. She currently serves as the Command Master Chief for Base Miami Beach. Her previous assignments include Command Master Chief for Sector Miami; Team Leader for Sector Miami Ready for Operations Team and Chief of the Mess for the Greater Miami Area; Officer in Charge of Station Gulfport, Mississippi; Officer in Charge of Station Michigan City, Indiana; Executive Petty Officer of Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) SOCKEYE home ported in Bodega Bay, California; Executive Petty Officer of CGC STINGRAY home ported in Mobile, Alabama; CGC MONOMOY home ported in Manama, Bahrain, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; CGC TYBEE home ported in San Diego, California; and Station New Orleans, Louisiana.

Master Chief Wyness is a graduate of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Academy class CLVI and the Coast Guard Senior Enlisted Leadership Course class 01-17. She has her 100-ton Merchant Mariners license and has a Certificate in Nutrition/Health Management through Purdue University. She also earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University and a Master of Science degree in Management, Strategy and Leadership from Michigan State University.

Master Chief Wyness’s personal awards include four Coast Guard Commendation Medals with Operational Distinguishing Device, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals with the Operational Distinguishing Device, one Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal and one Letter of Commendation.