Lieutenant Commander Daniel Stepler is an English instructor at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. A permanent cutterman, with over five years afloat, Lieutenant Commander Stepler has served aboard three Coast Guard cutters. His first tour was aboard USCGC Vigilant (WMEC 617) homeported in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Following this assignment, Lieutenant Commander Stepler served as Executive Officer aboard USCGC Drummond (WPB 1324) in Miami Beach, Florida. His most recent afloat tour was as Commanding Officer of USCGC Key Largo (WPB 1323) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. During each of these tours, Lieutenant Commander Stepler operated in the Coast Guard’s Seventh District, conducting counter narcotics, alien migrant interdiction, and search and rescue operations. He also served as Operations Officer, Patrol Forces Southwest Asia and Liaison Officer to COMDESRON-50 in Manama, Bahrain, where he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. Lieutenant Commander Stepler graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2008, earning a Bachelor of Science in Government. In 2017, he earned a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature from the University of Maryland, and in 2019, he earned a Master of Public Affairs from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.

Education

• Master of Public Affairs (Public Financial Administration), Indiana University (2019)
• M.A. in English Language and Literature, University of Maryland (2017)
• B.S. in Government, United States Coast Guard Academy (2008)

Courses Taught

• College Composition
• Coast Guard History