Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Chris Shih graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Management. His first assignment was to the USCGC BERTHOLF (WMSL-750) where he served as the ship’s Electrical Division Officer, Damage Control Assistant, a Boarding Officer, an Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection team leader, and an Officer of the Deck. In 2014 LCDR Shih reported to District 11 Enforcement working as a Law Enforcement Duty Officer and the Eastern Pacific Operations Section Chief, directing and coordinating counter narcotics operations in the Western Hemisphere. In 2017, he reported to Sector San Francisco’s Emergency Management and Force Readiness Department, overseeing the Ready for Operations team, Area Maritime Security Committee, and Port Readiness committee while directing Search and Rescue operations as a Command Duty Officer. During this tour LCDR Shih also received the 2017 Navy League of the United States’ Pacific Central Region’s Junior Officer of the Year award and in his assignment as the Sector’s Public Affairs Officer, played a vital role in the unit being honored with the 2017 Commander Jim Simpson award for Public Affairs excellence. Prior to reporting to the Coast Guard Academy’s Management Department as a rotating military instructor in 2022, LCDR Shih completed Command and Staff College with the United States Marine Corps and his graduate school education in the David Eccles school of business at the University of Utah, graduating with a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Science in Information Systems, and a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Management. In 2024, he received the Naval Order of the United States Junior Officer Instructor of the Year, awarded to a member of the Coast Guard Academy’s faculty whose commitment to learning and extraordinary service best exemplify the highest traditions of the American military maritime services and the United States Coast Guard. LCDR Shih also serves as the Coast Guard Academy’s Boxing Club coach, Emergency Medical Services Club advisor, and is an advisor to a number of other cadet clubs and organizations.