Michaella McFarland
Boston,MA
Summary
Dynamic leader with a proven track record at the United States Coast Guard, excelling in policy development and crisis management. Spearheaded a 92-day pollution response operation, enhancing regional efficiency by 30%. Expert in collaborative leadership, fostering strategic partnerships and mentoring teams to achieve operational excellence in high-stakes environments.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Incident Management Division Cheif
United States Coast Gaurd
04.2024 - Current
- Directed and executed a 92-day pollution response operation, ensuring uninterrupted service across three stations and maintaining operational readiness despite challenging environmental conditions, resulting in zero incidents or disruptions.
- Spearheaded regional assessment of Oil Spill Response Organizations (OSROs), completing four site visits, and ensuring 75% of contracted organizations met critical maintenance and operational standards, improving regional response efficiency by 30%.
- Established and nurtured strategic partnerships with Cal State University Long Beach, engaging 35 law students in emergency management exercises, enhancing university collaboration, and creating a pipeline for future policy experts in environmental response.
- Advocated and secured Congressional support for military personnel facing retaliation concerns, leading to policy changes that increased support and protection for service members and improved morale across the unit.
- Championed cross-functional collaboration with external agencies, including CSU LB and local stakeholders, to develop and implement a joint training exercise on federal and state environmental policies, improving incident coordination and readiness for over 50 participants.
- Mentored and developed a team of five personnel, driving individual performance through targeted professional development, resulting in 100% team qualification for advanced emergency management roles within six months.
- Improved organizational readiness by rapidly obtaining critical qualifications (PR, ICS Liaison, Group Supervisor), positioning for continued leadership responsibilities and enhancing overall team capability to respond to complex environmental incidents.
Maritime Regulatory Compliance Inspector
United States Coast Guard
11.2022 - 03.2024
- Secured participation in the Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium, representing the Coast Guard among 5,000+ servicewomen from 20 countries. Facilitated cross-cultural dialogue on military challenges and opportunities, contributing to the empowerment of women in the military and enhancing interservice cooperation and support for diverse perspectives.
- Led fundraising efforts for the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run, raising $84K alongside 2,000 officers, directly supporting acceptance and awareness for individuals with special needs in Southern California. Helped to drive greater community visibility and inclusion for the special needs community, impacting thousands of lives in the region.
- Initiated and organized the Coast Guard’s first participation in the San Francisco Pride Parade, leading the SPECTRUM affinity group in a groundbreaking public display of inclusivity. The Coast Guard's involvement reached over 1 million attendees, establishing a lasting, positive brand presence and advancing diversity within the organization.
- Engaged over 1,000 students through career days and STEM expos, resulting in successful recruitment of a Coast Guard member and building strong, long-term connections with hundreds of potential recruits, bolstering the Coast Guard’s talent pipeline and strengthening community relations.
- Enhanced the Coast Guard’s public image by leading outreach initiatives as PIE Coordinator, including school tours and career events for local LA/LB districts. This resulted in increased interest in Coast Guard career opportunities and raised awareness of STEM roles, contributing to a stronger future workforce.
Operations Specialist
United States Coast Guard
04.2021 - 11.2022
- Coordinated over 100 high-stakes Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, leading to the successful rescue of over 150 individuals, directly contributing to saving lives and enhancing public safety in maritime environments.
- Developed and executed search patterns during critical SAR missions, improving mission success rates by 30% through optimized resource deployment and strategic planning.
- Led real-time command and control efforts for over 50 emergency response operations, ensuring swift and accurate communications that reduced response times by 20%, ultimately improving the efficiency of critical maritime missions.
- Managed 24/7 operational watch teams in command centers and aboard cutters, ensuring continuous readiness and facilitating the seamless coordination of over 200 maritime law enforcement, pollution response, and national defense missions.
- Directed multi-agency coordination for large-scale maritime incidents, including environmental pollution control and law enforcement operations, resulting in successful enforcement of maritime laws and mitigation of environmental hazards with no operational delays.
- Streamlined operational planning processes, contributing to the development of mission plans that decreased planning time by 15% while ensuring all operational objectives were met within established timelines and regulations.
- Trained and mentored a team of 10 junior personnel, increasing operational efficiency by 25% through comprehensive coaching in maritime law enforcement procedures, SAR techniques, and emergency response management.
- Increased operational readiness by developing and refining communication protocols, leading to a 20% reduction in errors during emergency operations and enhancing mission execution efficiency.
- Collaborated with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to plan and execute national defense and homeland security missions, ensuring the success of all missions and the safeguarding of U.S. maritime borders.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Marine And Environmental Science
Hampton University
Hampton, VA06-2017
Skills
- Policy development
- Culture transformation
- Collaborative leadership
- Team management
- Stakeholder relations
- Multitasking and organization
- Problem-solving
- Budget management
- Strategic planning
- Crisis management
- Risk management
- Process improvement
Certification
TBD
Timeline
Assistant Incident Management Division Cheif
United States Coast Gaurd
04.2024 - Current
Maritime Regulatory Compliance Inspector
United States Coast Guard
11.2022 - 03.2024
Operations Specialist
United States Coast Guard
04.2021 - 11.2022
TBD
Bachelor of Science - Marine And Environmental Science
Hampton University
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