Command Senior Chief Paulen (paul-EEN) Coakley was born in Augusta, GA. She graduated as Valedictorian from Lucy Craft Laney High School in May 2002. Upon graduation, she attended Augusta State University as a Pre-med Biology major, but on November 04, 2003, she left her hometown and joined the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. She attended basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes IL where she advanced to E-2 due to her performance as an outstanding section leader. Upon completion of basic training, she reported to Hospital Corpsman Basic School in Great Lakes, IL for A school training.
After A-school, Senior Chief Coakley’s attended two C-schools (Surgical Technician and Urology Technician) at the Naval School of Health Science (NSHS) in Portsmouth, VA. During Urology Technician school, she advanced to Petty Officer Third Class before checking onboard her first Command at the Urology Clinic at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) in Portsmouth, VA. During her five-year tour at NMCP, she was advanced to Petty Officer Second Class. After a successful tour at NMCP, Petty Officer Coakley reported to Navy Medicine Training Support Command (NMTSC) as an instructor for Urology Technician School in San Antonio, TX. Shortly after checking into NMTSC, she was selected to start the Navy Military Training program for HM A-School, in which, she served the remaining duration of her tour as a Navy Military Training Instructor (NMTI). Petty Officer Coakley earned her Master Training Specialist (MTS) qualification and was advanced to Petty Officer First Class.
Her other tours included the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in Norfolk, VA, where she was selected to Chief Petty Officer and earned her Surface Warfare qualification. Chief Coakley served as the Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) for Fleet Surgical Team FOUR (FST 4) in Norfolk, VA. As SEL for FST 4, she led her team on two Humanitarian missions with the USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) in Haiti and with the USS Kearsarge (LHA 3) in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Island rendering hurricane relief aide in those area. Moreover, her team was selected to be work alongside the White House Medical Team for President Trump during his visit to the USS Kearsarge (LHA 3) to survey the hurricane damage in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in October 2017.
Chief Coakley later reported to Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Atlanta formerly Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Atlanta in February of 2018. During her time at NTAG Atlanta, Chief Coakley advanced to Senior Chief and was selected as a Command Senior Chief in less than a years’ time. She checked onboard Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bethesda, Maryland in May 2023 where she is currently serving as the Command Senior Chief (CMDCS).
She is a graduate of CMC/COB School Class# 23090, Senior Enlisted Academy Class# 257 (Brown Group) where she served as the Vice President of her class, and she also attended the United States Coast Guard (USCG) CPO Academy Class#222. Command Senior Chief Coakley earned her associate degree from Coastline Community College in Healthcare Management. She finished her bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management from Saint Leo University. She is currently attending Saint Leo University to obtain her Master’s degree in Business Administration.
Her personal awards include The Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal (three awards), Humanitarian Service Medal (two awards), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist insignia, and numerous other campaign and service awards.
Last Updated: 1 June 2023