Tracy Wirth

Commander Tracy L. Wirth assumed the role of Response Department Head in June 2018. She is responsible for command and control activities associated with Search and Rescue (SAR), Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security, Marine Environmental Protection, Incident Management, and Law Enforcement in the navigable waters of the State of North Carolina. Prior to this, she served as the Deputy, Planning and Force Readiness Chief at Coast Guard District Fourteen in Honolulu, HI, where she was responsible for all-hazards contingency planning and preparedness in the CG’s geographically largest district.

Commander Wirth has served in the U.S. Coast Guard for over 18 years, spending the majority of her career in high operational tempo All-Hazard incident management and crisis management roles. She is a NIMS ICS Type 2 Planning Section Chief, Type 3 Incident Commander, and Type 3 Operations Section Chief. Her major operational responses include: September 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon, Baltimore Tunnel Fire of 2001, Hurricane Isabel in 2003, BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Super Storm SANDY, Paulsboro, NJ Train Derailment, two DoD helicopter crash incidents, and most recently Hurricane MARIA as the Deputy Planning Section Chief at the Area Command level.

CDR Wirth’s other assignments include Sector Delaware Bay Incident Management Chief, Coast Guard Headquarters Incident Management Policy Chief and Coordination and Outreach Division Officer, Sector Buffalo Waterways Management Chief, and Sector National Capital Region (formally Activities Baltimore) Marine Environmental Protection Chief and Foreign Vessel Inspector.

CDR Wirth began her Coast Guard career after receiving her commission from Officer Candidate School in February 2001. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in Quality Systems Management from the National Graduate School.  

CDR Wirth’s military awards include four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and two Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbons. She is authorized to wear both the Boat Forces and Marine Safety Insignias.

CDR Wirth was also an avid soccer player and played soccer for the All-Navy and All-Armed Forces Women’s Soccer Team for three consecutive years (2001-2003), where she traveled to Germany for international competition in 2003.

CDR Wirth is a native of Schnecksville, Pennsylvania and has three children, Austie, Colbie, and Crosby.