Nicole Tesoniero

Commander Nicole M. Tesoniero reports as the Coast Guard’s National Security Fellow following a command tour aboard USCGC Harriet Lane (WMEC 903). Commander Tesoniero assumed command of Harriet Lane in Baltimore, Maryland in July 2023. She subsequently reconstituted cutter and crew following a 20-month Service Life Extension Program and ultimately re-homeported the cutter from Portsmouth, Virginia to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in December 2023 to assume duty as the Coast Guard’s Indo-Pacific Support Cutter. In this capacity, Harriet Lane conducted operations across Oceania in support of partner nation capacity building and promoting the sovereignty and maritime governance of Pacific Island partners. 

Commander Tesoniero previously served as a Special Assistant to the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. There she was responsible for informing and advancing the Chairman’s intent through analysis, strategic communications, and coordinating global  engagements.  

Commander Tesoniero is a career Cutterman whose time at sea spans six Coast Guard cutters. Her afloat  career began in 2005 aboard USCGC Steadfast (WMEC 623). She has served in four previous command  cadre positions afloat: Commanding Officer of USCGC Harriet Lane (WMEC 903) and USCGC Key Biscayne (WPB 1339) and Executive Officer aboard USCGC Chandeleur (WPB 1319), USCGC Knight  Island (WPB 1348), and USCGC Escanaba (WMEC 907).  

Commander Tesoniero completed a staff assignment within the Office of Requirements and Analysis  (CG-771) at Coast Guard Headquarters. In this capacity, she was responsible for managing the  requirements generation process for Coast Guard surface acquisitions, including the Polar Security Cutter,  Offshore Patrol Cutter, and Waterways Commerce Cutter. Additionally, she served as an instructor within the Professional Maritime Studies Branch at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London,  Connecticut.  

Commander Tesoniero is a 2005 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy where she earned a  Bachelor of Science degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. She holds a master’s degree  from the United States Naval War College in National Defense and Strategic Studies. Additionally, she  holds certification as a joint operational planner as a graduate of the Naval War College’s Maritime  Advanced Warfighting School.