Test post

Lieutenant Commander Nathaniel Baladad assumed the duties of U.S. Coast Guard Fellow at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in 2024 after most recently serving as Chief of Intelligence at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi from July 2021 to June 2024. During this assignment, Lt. Cmdr. Baladad was responsible for all Coast Guard intelligence missions in the westernmost Gulf of Mexico, including the United States’ third-largest commercial and military strategic port and the maritime border with Mexico.

From August 2018 to June 2021, Lt. Cmdr. Baladad served as Executive Officer of the Coast Guard Cryptologic Unit Hawaii. He was dual-hatted as command cadre for the Coast Guard unit and as Chief of the Global Presence Division within the National Security Agency Hawaii. He led joint service and civilian personnel in this NSA organization, driving collection, analysis, and signals intelligence reporting to national-level policymakers and operational commanders.

From 2016 to 2018, Lt. Cmdr. Baladad served as Operations Officer of Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk, homeported in Key West, Florida. In this role, he directed operations aboard a medium-endurance cutter, primarily conducting alien/migrant interdiction and counter-drug operations in the Straits of Florida, the Caribbean, and the Eastern Pacific.

From 2014 to 2016, he served as the Senior Intelligence Watch Officer at Joint Interagency Task Force South, Key West, Florida, where he was responsible for fusing all-source intelligence to counter narcotics flows in the southern transit zones.

Lt. Cmdr. Baladad’s other assignments include serving as Executive Officer of USCGC Drummond (2012–2013), Executive Officer of USCGC Nantucket (2011–2012), and as First Lieutenant aboard CGC Mohawk (2009–2011).

Lt. Cmdr. Baladad graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in government (international affairs). He holds a Master of Science in strategic intelligence from the National Intelligence University (2014). Lt. Cmdr. Baladad is a permanent cutterman. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and various other personal and unit awards.