MEC Justin Mulkey, USCG
Representing US Coast Guard
Chief Petty Officer Maritime Enforcement Specialist Justin W. Mulkey, distinguished himself through exceptional service as the Advanced Interdiction Team (AIT) 2 Squad Leader and senior Boarding Officer, during a boarding with Naval Special Warfare (NSW) off the Horn of Africa, operating under Title 10 authorities, which resulted in the seizure of advanced conventional weaponry destined for non-state terrorist actors.
On the evening of January 11, 2024, a joint team comprised of MSRTE AIT 2 and NSW operators executed a high-risk nighttime boarding of a stateless dhow off the Somali coast, suspected of smuggling lethal aid from Iran into Yemen. AIT 2 & NSW operators aboard the USS PULLER meticulously planned, rapidly deployed and thoroughly searched the vessel, resulting in the seizure of components for medium range ballistic missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, and warheads destined for terrorist organizations targeting American citizens, interests, and infrastructure. During the boarding two SEAL operators were tragically lost at sea. The AIT 2 operators directly supported 10-days of critical air and surface Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, liaised with team leadership in Bahrain, and provided detailed information to support SAR planning support from Coast Guard Atlantic Area. Additionally, AIT 2 operators stood force protection watch on board the smuggling vessel, conducted at sea space accountability, and assisted with offloading the weapons and suspected smugglers. The smugglers were detained, transported to the United States, and have been charged in U.S. District Court in Richmond, VA with transporting suspected Iranian-made weapons used by Houthi rebel forces in recent attacks. The presence of MEC Mulkey enabled prosecutors to leverage additional charges for providing false information to U.S. Coast Guard officers and impeding a boarding.
MEC Mulkey exemplifies the highest standards of personal conduct and embodies the U. S. Coast Guard’s Core Values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty, and is an ideal Coast Guard representative to receive the prestigious 2024 JINSA Grateful Nation Award.
