Imagery available: Coast Guard recognizes Port Orchard, Wash. resident as 47th USCG Master Cutterman

Fireman Apprentice James Byrne, the most junior member aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon, a 378-foot High Endurance Cutter homeported in Seattle, presents Chief Warrant Officer Joel Moore, support officer of the Mellon, with an oar engraved with all of the cutters Moore served aboard as a gift from the enlisted crew, Aug. 4, 2016. Moore was recognized as a Coast Guard Master Cutterman for accumulating more than 20 years of sea time during his career. U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Cutter Mellon. Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Shuster, weapons officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon, a 378-foot High Endurance Cutter homeported in Seattle, presents Chief Warrant Officer Joel Moore, support officer of the Mellon, a copy of the book "The Old Man and the Sea" during a ceremony held aboard the underway cutter, Aug. 4, 2016. Moore received several gifts and awards in recognition of accumulating more than 20 years of sea time during his Coast Guard career. U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon. Chief Warrant Officer Joel Moore, support officer aboard Coast Guard Cutter Mellon, a 378-foot High Endurance Cutter homeported in Seattle, presents the junior officers their permanent cutterman pins during a ceremony held aboard the underway cutter, Aug. 4, 2016. The presentation was Moore's first act as a Coast Guard master cutterman, a title indicating he has spent more than 20 years at sea during his Coast Guard career. U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon.

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard recognized Port Orchard, Washington, resident Chief Warrant Officer Joel Moore, support officer, Coast Guard Cutter Mellon, as the 47th Master Cutterman during a cermony aboard the cutter, which was underway in the Bering Sea, Coast Guard Day, August 4.

Moore was presented with a Letter of Appreciation signed by Adm. Paul F. Zunkunft,  commandant of the Coast Guard, by Capt. Darren McLenon, commanding officer, Coast Guard Cutter Mellon, and Moore was  also awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal during the ceremony.

“How fitting to celebrate this prestigious and historic event on the Coast Guard’s 226th Anniversary in the world’s most dangerous environment, the Bering Sea,” said McLenon. "Because of Chief Warrant Officer Moore the Mellon is one of the best cutters in the fleet, and the Coast Guard is a better service."

Chief Warrant Officer Moore currently serves as the support officer of the Mellon, with more than 20 years of total sea time during his Coast Guard career. Following a brief stint in professional baseball’s minor league system, Moore joined the Coast Guard in 1992 and began his career as a Seaman Apprentice aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Penobscot Bay, which was homeported at Governor's Island in New York.  He has since served aboard nine Coast Guard cutters and at one Coast Guard small boat station.

The Coast Guard’s Master Cutterman program was created in April 2007, to formally recognize  servicemembers who have distinguished themselves throughout their careers with more than 20 years of at sea service. The first Master Cutterman certificate was presented to Chief Warrant Officer Paul Dilger at his retirement ceremony in July 2007. While many Coast Guardsmen have proudly been named as permanent cuttermen, serving more than five years afloat, only a select few have endured the rigors of sea duty for 20 years.