Commander Marc Nguyen, USCG (Ret) was born in South Vietnam in 1962; at the conclusion of the Vietnam War in 1975, he and his family immigrated to the United States. He attended the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, graduated in 1987, and went on to serve with distinction for 20 years as a Commissioned U.S. Coast Guard Officer. Throughout his career, Commander Nguyen held diverse postings across the East, Gulf, and West Coasts, as well as international assignments in Guam, Singapore, and the Arctic Circle. His leadership spanned critical Coast Guard missions including Drug Interdiction, Search and Rescue, Maritime Safety and Security, Environmental Protection, and Ice Operations.

In a landmark mission following the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam, Commander Nguyen led a U.S. military delegation to Vietnam to strengthen bilateral ties and support economic development. His team collaborated with Vietnamese officials to rebuild port infrastructure, laying the groundwork for improved maritime trade and long-term economic growth.

Following his retirement in 2007, Commander Nguyen served as a maritime security consultant and currently as a U.S. Coast Guard Senior Advisor and Program Manager at Sector Los Angeles – Long Beach. He remains deeply committed to public service and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Project Vietnam Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare access and outcomes for underserved communities both at home and abroad. Commander Nguyen lives with his wife, Hong, and his three children in southern California.