Men and Women of the U.S.Navy

Anchor Roasting is proud to honor Joseph W. Curtain Chief of Staff Homeland Security Taskforce Southeast Coast Guard Seventh District

 Mr. Joe Curtain serves as the Chief of Staff for Homeland Security Task Force Southeast (HSTF-SE) where he is responsible for the complete oversight of the continued development and refinement of OPLAN VIGILANT SENTRY (OVS), the federal government’s mass migration contingency plan. As the HSTF-SE Chief of Staff, he orchestrates the activities of full time and collateral duty task force members, monitors external policy developments, and ensures taskforce director engagement in the coordination and collaboration among various federal, state and local agencies.

 Prior to being selected as the HSTF-SE Chief of Staff, Mr. Curtain was assigned to the Navy International Programs Office from July 2013 to August 2015, where he oversaw the Foreign Military Sales of 16 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

 He served as a US Southern Command Strategy Officer in the J5 (Strategy and Policy) Directorate and the Executive Officer to the Civilian Deputy Commander and Foreign Policy Advisor, where he played an integral role in the development of SOUTHCOM’s contingency planning for OVS.

Mr. Curtain was also personally responsible for drafting a strategic alignment with the White House strategy to combat transnational organized crime, providing a refocused strategic outlook seeking to improve existing efforts in support of the disruption and dismantlement of transnational criminal networks and fostering alternatives in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. He also built diplomatic and security relationships between US and foreign national military forces in Latin America and the Caribbean by leading the SOUTHCOM Foreign Policy Advisor’s office in planning exercises, including PANAMAX and Integrated Advance, the Chiefs of Mission Conference, and joint operations including Operation Martillo.

Prior to serving at SOUTHCOM, he served as the Navy Section Chief at US Military Group Honduras from June 2008 to August 2010, where he led an interagency team in drafting and implementing the U.S Embassy's counter-drug initiative, "La Mosquitia" strategy, which provided a holistic approach to combating illicit trafficking in the ungoverned northeastern area of Honduras.

 Mr. Curtain holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish American Literature from The George Washington University and graduated with distinction from the Naval Postgraduate School, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Security Studies, Western Hemisphere.

 Mr. Curtain’s personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2), and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3). SEMPER FORTIS!