Security Levels

Commander, Sector Columbia River

Captain William R. Timmons

Captain William R. Timmons assumed the duties as the Commander, Coast Guard Sector Columbia River in May 2016. He is responsible for all Coast Guard operations throughout the Sector, which includes protecting life and property, enforcing federal laws and treaties, preserving the living marine resources, and promoting national security. Headquartered in Warrenton, Oregon, at the mouth of the Columbia River, the Sector spans the southern half of Washington, all of Oregon and most of Idaho and includes 465 miles of navigable rivers, 420 miles of coastline, 33 ports and 12 river bars. He leads nine sub-units with 1,050 active duty, civilian, reserve and auxiliary personnel, and serves as Captain of the Port, Federal On Scene Coordinator, Federal Maritime Security Coordinator, Officer in Charge of Marine Inspections, and Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator.

Captain Timmons was previously assigned to U. S. Coast Guard Pacific Area in Alameda, California as Chief of the Future Operations Branch. In this position, he directly supported multi-mission interagency operations throughout the 74 million square mile Pacific Theater. His duties included developing and executing a strategic framework to prioritize mission requirements and allocating resources in support of the Coast Guard's Western Hemisphere and Arctic strategies, stewardship of incident management initiatives, integration of Deployable Specialized Forces to the Operational Commander enterprise, and incorporation of international partnerships that advanced maritime safety, security, and stewardship across the Pacific Theater.

A career helicopter pilot with over 5,200 flight hours and a designated Coast Guard Flight Examiner/Instructor Pilot since 1998, Captain Timmons has completed operational tours at: Air Station Clearwater, Florida; Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Air Station Sitka, Alaska; Aviation Training Center Mobile, Alabama; Group/Air Station Astoria, Oregon; and as a plank owner at Sector Columbia River. He has flown both the HH-60J and MH-60T helicopters. Other staff assignments included financial policy analyst and congressional affairs liaison for the Resource Director/Comptroller at Coast Guard Headquarters.

Captain Timmons grew up in a U.S. Navy family and graduated from the University of South Florida in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. He received his commission in the U.S. Coast Guard after graduating from Officer Candidate School at Yorktown, Virginia in 1992 and was designated a Coast Guard Aviator after completing Naval Flight Training in Pensacola, Florida in 1994. In 2013, he completed a year of study at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island having earned a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

Captain Timmons' military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Coast Guard Air Medal, the Coast Guard Commendation and Achievement Medals, and the Commandant's Letter of Commendation. Captain Timmons and his wife Laura have 18-year old triplets: Aubrey, Liz, and Patrick who are each headed to the University of Oregon, the University of California Berkeley, and the U.S. Air Force Academy respectively.

CAPT Timmons Bio (PDF for download)

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Last Modified 12/21/2016