Jeff Wheeler is the Deputy Chief of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Boat Forces located at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC. The Office of Boat Forces enables mission performance in support of the strategic goals of the Coast Guard, providing human capital and capabilities necessary to effectively operate boats to meet Coast Guard mission requirements.

He came to Boat Forces in 2000 while still on active duty, assuming the role of Manager, Boat Crew Training and Doctrine. In this capacity, he was responsible for the management, oversight and development of the service-wide boat crew training program and boat readiness and standardization program. Mr. Wheeler retired from active duty in 2003 and continued to serve the Office of Boat Forces in a civilian capacity. In 2008, Mr. Wheeler assumed the Deputy Chief position in which he is responsible for assisting the office Chief in the direct supervision, management and strategic development of the Boat Forces program. 

Prior to his assignments within the Office of Boat Forces, Mr. Wheeler served at multiple operational field commands throughout the country performing law enforcement, search and rescue, and aids to navigation missions. Mr. Wheeler has held numerous operational and boat competencies within the Coast Guard, including Surfman, which have provided a profound knowledge of boat operations and mission requirements. He attended the Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville VA in 2009.