Captain Wes Pulver is a 1987 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering with honors. He holds a Master of Engineering Degree in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering awarded by Cornell University.Captain Pulver’s initial afloat assignment was as a Deck Watch Officer in USCGC Dauntless homeported in Miami Beach, Florida. Subsequent afloat assignments include Commanding Officer of USCGC Point Warde homeported in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina; Operations Officer of USCGC Dallas in New York City, New York; and Executive Officer of America's Tall Ship, USCGC Eagle, homeported in New London, Connecticut. From 2006 to 2008, he served as Commanding Officer, USCGC Bear in Portsmouth, Virginia, where he directed the seizure of over 100 million dollars worth of pure cocaine. He assumed command of USCG Barque Eagle in July, 2012.
Assignments ashore include Operations Center Controller in the Fifth Coast Guard District; Deputy Chief of the Coast Guard's Workforce Planning Staff at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C.; Assistant Commandant of Cadets at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut; Modernization Lead and Operations Analysis Chief for Commander, Atlantic Area in Portsmouth, Virginia; and Chief, Coast Guard Congressional and Governmental Affairs in Washington, D.C. where he represented the Service as the Coast Guard’s spokesman to Congress.
Captain Pulver’s awards include two Legion of Merits, four Meritorious Service Medals, five Commendation Medals, three Commandant’s Letters of Commendation, and the permanent Cutterman Pin.