Lieutenant Sean M. Killian
United States Coast Guard
SIGINT Project Officer
COMDT (CG-257)

LT Sean M. Killian serves as the Project Officer at Coast Guard Headquarters (COMDT CG-257).  In this role, he manages resource allocation for the procurement and sustainment of technical systems associated with Tactical Afloat Cryptology in support of Navy and Marine Corps Cryptology, as well as Allied Forces.

A native of Salisbury, Maryland, LT Killian began his career in the USCG the same time the USCG became a member of the Intelligence Community.  Initially an enlisted Sailor, LT Killian earned the Operations Specialist (OS) rating after he completed training in shipboard operations and radio telecommunications.  He gained experience in both of these fields at Sector Northern New England, acting as a Radioman and Search and Rescue (SAR) planner and coordinator using VHF and HF radios for communications and triangulation of mariners in distress in the North Atlantic Ocean.

In 2008, LT Killian lateraled to the newly established Intelligence Specialist (IS) rating and received cryptologic training at IWTC Corry Station and Goodfellow AFB, becoming a plankowner of this rating.  As an Intelligence Specialist, LT Killian established the Coast Guard’s first Cryptologic Services Group, at Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center Atlantic in Dam Neck, Virginia. He worked as a Maritime SIGINT analyst during the establishment of Coast Guard Cryptology afloat and ashore.  LT Killian later served at the Coast Guard Headquarters Intelligence Security Division and worked to safeguard Coast Guard networks and secure facilities as the Service transferred from its Legacy Headquarters building in Southwest Washington, D.C. to its new facility at the St. Elizabth’s Campus.

Following this tour, LT Killian advanced to Chief Petty Officer and became the Intelligence Training “C” school Chief where his roles included teaching enlisted, officers and civilians the subjects of  SIGINT, GEOINT and working as the lead instructor for the Coast Guard Intelligence Officer’s Course.  Following this tour, LT Killian commissioned as Direct Commission Intelligence Officer through the Coast Guard’s Direct Commissioning program.

LT Killian first commissioned tour was as the Assistant Operations Officer (AOPS) at the Coast Guard hub for deployed Cryptology, Coast Guard Cryptologic Unit Texas. As a Division Officer and AOPS, LT Killian deployed 92 USCG Sailors globally to the Arctic, Pacific, Europe and South America, alongside US Navy Sailors from NIOC Texas and Marine Corps Cryptologic Company-H in support of Coast Guard and National priorities. In this capacity, he directly supported the US Navy, US Marine Corps, Combatant Commanders USNORTHCOM/NORAD, USSOUTHCOM, USINDOPACOM as well as Secret Service, Joint Interagency Task Force-South, Law Enforcement partners and allied partners including the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy.

LT Killian graduated from Delaware Tech in 2004 with an Applied Associates of Science degree in General Engineering and he earned a Bachelor of Science in Intelligence from Bellevue University.  He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, College of Distance Education.

LT Killian is a graduate of the Chief Petty Officer Academy Class 221 and completed Chiefs Call to Indoctrination in the fall of 2015.  He is a graduate of Direct Commission Officer Course 02-17, Coast Guard Intelligence Officer Course 01-17 and Cryptologic Warfare Officer Basic Course 05-21.

His personal awards include three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, a Coast Guard Achievement Medal, three Commandant Letters of Commendation with “O” device, four Good Conduct Medals and various personal and unit awards.

LT Killian is married to LCDR April Killian, USCGR. They are the proud parents of four children.

Thank you for your service Shipmate!