Captain Mark Rizzo

Chief Director of Auxiliary

Captain Rizzo enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1979 from his hometown of Spooner Wisconsin and advanced over the years to Chief Petty Officer. In 1987 he graduated from Officer Candidate School. His first tour of duty following OCS was at Training Center Yorktown. Captain Rizzo earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business with an emphasis in Computer Information Systems and Masters Degree in Business Administration, both from St. Leo University graduating with honors Magna Cum Laude.

From 1989 to 1992, he served as Assistant Operations and Operations Officer at Coast Guard Group/COTP Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. While at Sault Ste. Marie he was responsible for overseeing all operations on Lake Superior and the northern halves of Lakes Michigan and Huron.

From 1992-1995 he served as a Search and Rescue Controller at the Ninth District Command Center in Cleveland, Ohio and fleeted up to Senior Watch Officer his last year. While in Cleveland, he received the prestigious Search and Rescue Controller of the Year Award and worked with the R&D center on a variety of products needed to improve and automate search planning.

From 1995-1998 he served as Executive Officer, Coast Guard Group Charleston, South Carolina. While in Charleston he coordinated safety zones for the 96’ Olympic Yachting venues. He also worked with the Atlantic Area staff to coordinate the change of homeport and establishment of pier services for CGCs DALLAS and GALLATIN from New York to Charleston.

From 1998-2001 he served as Chief, Atlantic Area/Fifth Coast Guard District Command Center. He worked with SAR professionals throughout the International community and oversaw all Coast Guard operations on the eastern half of the United States. After astutely identifying flaws in search planning Coast Guard wide, he was selected to personally brief the Commandant, Flags and SES on numerous compelling issues with the CG SAR Program at the 2004 spring Flag Conference.

From 2001-2004, he served as Commander, Group Hampton Roads. His area of responsibility included the lower half of Chesapeake Bay and all tributaries, and extended offshore 200nm and south to the North Carolina border. He oversaw the activities of 245 active duty personnel and over 500 Auxiliarist. His operational units included 4 Coastal Patrol Boats, 4 Stations, 2 Aids to Navigation Teams, and one Ice Breaking Tug. In 2002 he received the Secretary of Transportation’s Partnering for Excellence Award and was also a nominee for the CAPT David H. Jarvis Award for inspirational leadership.

From 2004-2007 CAPT Rizzo served as Chief of the CG Headquarters Command Center. In this position he was responsible for tracking all Coast Guard and other events of National Significance world-wide and briefed them Commandant and Senior Flag Officers on a daily basis. With watch standers in Headquarters, the Department of Homeland Security National Operations Center and the White House situation room, he coordinated response operations at the highest levels of Government working closely with the Pentagon and all National Capital Region Command Centers. Most notable was his oversight and response for Hurricane KATRINA in 2005.

From 2007-2008 he served as a Hearing Officer adjudicating Civil Penalties. He reported in as Chief, Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety on 17 July, 2008. CAPT Rizzo’s personal decorations and awards include: two Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medals, 3 Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the 9-11 Medal, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, two Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, two Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Medal, Special Ops Service Ribbon, Unit Commendation and 3 Merit Unit Commendations. CAPT Rizzo has three sons, Jason, Brian and Steve. His son Brian is currently serving in the Virginia Air National Guard and completed two 9 month tours in Iraq and Qatar Saudi Arabia.