Lieutenant Commander Cuga assumed the duties as Security Team Lead, Office of Port and Facility Compliance (CG-FAC), at Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC, in September 2025. Prior to this assignment, Lieutenant Commander Cuga served as the lead for the Coast Guard Resiliency and Recovery Program, the Area Maritime Security Committee Program, and as a Port Planner for Cargo and Safety Compliance; within the Office of Port and Facility Compliance developing and implementing policies, guidance, and procedures for the safety and security of the nation’s Maritime Transportation System.

CG-FAC develops and oversees national policy, standards, and programs that support the safety, security, and environmental stewardship of U.S. ports, facilities, and maritime transportation operations. CG-FAC works alongside interagency, industry, port, and international partners to strengthen maritime critical infrastructure, protect global supply chains, and ensure secure, safe and reliable operations across the maritime domain.

The Security Team Lead position includes overseeing the Coast Guard’s MTS Resiliency and Recovery mission, the Area Maritime Security Committees program, Marine Transportation Security Act (MTSA) security programs, the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, and the Coast Guard’s Port Security Specialist program.

Lieutenant Commander Cuga was commissioned in 2012 upon graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, and in 2021, earned an MA in Transportation and Logistics Management from American Military University. He has served twelve years in marine safety assignments, including three years in Headquarters Policy positions. In this position, he serves as a Coast Guard representative in numerous interagency and industry stakeholder workgroups, committees, and policy committees.