21/09/2026
Serving His Home Island and Around the Globe: Meet Cutterman of the Week MK2 Masga
“Ultimately, I enjoy being a cutterman and being underway because the work is purposeful,” said Cutterman of the Week MK2 Randall Donnavan Masga. “Whether conducting humanitarian assistance, search-and-rescue, law enforcement, participating in maritime traditions, or operating far from home with my shipmates, every underway period presents an opportunity to serve something larger than myself.”
MK2 Masga is a duty engineer aboard the USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140), responsible for maintaining machinery and auxiliary equipment. He also serves as a boarding officer who leads law enforcement teams in vessel boardings and enforcement operations.
Underway life offers a unique combination of adventure, professional growth, camaraderie, and meaningful service, he said. Through cutter operations, he has experienced diverse missions, visited new places, and worked closely with shipmates in challenging maritime environments.
“Cutter life builds resilience, trust, and pride, while the missions provide a lasting sense of accomplishment,” he said.
Being a part of humanitarian missions, such as the response to Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi, has a special and very personal meaning for MK2 Masga, who is from Rota.
“I value the humanitarian side of Coast Guard service. Delivering essential goods to remote atolls in Micronesia demonstrated the importance of supporting communities that have limited access to supplies and assistance,” he said.
“It showed how a Coast Guard cutter and its crew can provide direct support to people affected by natural disasters, and allowed me to give back to the community on my home island of Rota. Knowing that our efforts helped affected communities recover made the long hours and demanding conditions worthwhile.”
MK2 Masga, who joined the Coast Guard in 2021, served aboard the USCGC Active and the USCGC Swordfish before reporting aboard USCGC Oliver Henry in June 2025.
