Manager Appointed for Wildlife Response Operations Center at Texas State Aquarium
July 24, 2024
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander, Michael L. Griffin has recently retired and accepted a new role at the Wildlife Response Operations Center (WROC) as the Emergency Management Specialist.
A native Texan, Michael L. Griffin, commonly called “Griff”, earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Texas State University before enlisting in the Coast Guard. Stationed in New York, California, Virginia, Texas, Florida, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. throughout his lifetime, Griffin has served various sectors and has a strong capability to adapt and prepare. Most recently, Griff served as the U.S. Coast Guard’s Chief of Emergency Management and Force Readiness Division for Sector Corpus Christi, Texas. In this role, he worked closely with regional partners to ensure the maintenance and safety of the coastal maritime zone, preparing him well to lead the WROC’s efforts.
Within his first month with the Aquarium, Griffin assisted the staff and weathered two storms, Tropical Storm Alberto and Hurricane Beryl. Between tracking climate patterns and providing traffic updates and weather briefings to the staff, his knowledge and guidance were instrumental in providing a sense of security for everyone on site. This support fortifies the Aquarium’s role in crisis management for its resident animals and for the wildlife in the Coastal Bend.
Griffin has been recognized for his accomplishments multiple times over. His career achievements include four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, a Global War on Terrorism Medal, two Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals, a Humanitarian Service Medal, and the 2022 Coast Guard Emergency Manager of the Year, among other unit and team awards. Over his distinguished career, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership. With Griffin’s decorated past, the WROC is in experienced hands.
Texas State Aquarium established the nation’s first emergency Wildlife Response Operations Center, in collaboration with multiple federal, state and local entities responsible for responding when a natural or manmade disaster occurs. Partners if the WROC include Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas General Land Office, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the National Park Service, the U.S. Coast Guard and Port Corpus Christi.
