COMMANDER Ronney C. Wright
As the Executive Officer of the Coast Guard’s Maritime Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) in Charleston, South Carolina, Commander Wright is responsible for overseeing the MLEA’s mission to annually train over 8,500 students in the safe, legal, and professional enforcement of U.S. laws throughout the maritime environment.
Commander Wright graduated from The University of Texas with a B.S. in Environmental Science. After selection to the Coast Guard’s funded legal education program, he earned a Juris Doctor from The College of William and Mary School of Law and is a member of both Minnesota and Texas State Bar Associations.
Prior to this assignment, Commander Wright served as the Deputy, Staff Judge Advocate for the Eleventh Coast Guard District in Alameda, California where he provided legal advice to the District Commander, as well as to subordinate units and partner commands from the northern border of California to San Diego spanning over 3,000 miles of coastline. Other legal assignments include serving as a Trial Defense Counsel at Defense Service Office Southeast located on U.S. Naval Base Norfolk, Virginia. In this role, he provided legal advice and representation to eligible service members at courts-martial and administrative proceedings, including enlisted administrative separation boards and officer boards of inquiry.
Prior to attending law school, he completed a special assignment as the Protocol Officer and Military Aide to the 25th Commandant of the Coast Guard where he served as the primary liaison to foreign governments, DoD, DHS, and Congressional staffs in direct support of the Coast Guard’s Flag and Senior Executive Service Corps. Additionally, Commander Wright served as Chief, Inspections Division at Marine Safety Unit Texas City; Chief, Port State Control at Sector Honolulu; and Operations Officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter WALNUT (WLB 205) homeported in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Individual military awards include (2) Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medals, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, (2) Coast Guard Achievement Medals, the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon and numerous other team awards. Commander Wright is authorized to wear the Commandant’s Staff Badge as well as the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety and Legal Insignia.
Commander Wright and his wife Robyn, reside in North Charleston, South Carolina with their fourteen-year-old daughter, Maya, and ten-year old son, Isaiah.