KODIAK, Alaska — Chief Petty Officer Alan Dumville has spent 20 years in the Coast Guard, a career that ranges from aids to navigation to drug and migrant interdiction. Like most Coast Guard members, he has had his share of ups and downs.

Dumville began his career at Training Center Cape May in New Jersey, where he attended boot camp. After graduating, he reported to the Coast Guard cutter Confidence in Cape Canaveral, Florida. He is now stationed in Kodiak, where he serves as a morale, welfare and recreation chief.

Though not among the most trying times of his career, his service aboard the Coast Guard cutter Campbell included a humanitarian mission that helped more than 6,000 migrants. The Center Square reported that the Coast Guard interdicted about 12,000 people annually in 2022 and 2023. The mission was one of many Dumville took part in.

At Coast Guard Base Kodiak, Dumville helps plan and schedule events for aviation units, cutters, the base and dependents. MWR Kodiak lists events open to everyone who lives or is stationed on the base. Among the programs he helped set up for single Coast Guard members are hikes, fishing trips and other outings.

My Base Guide lists Kodiak as one of the largest Coast Guard bases, with nearly 1,100 military members and about 1,600 dependents.

Dumville’s career has taken him through many units and specialties, including icebreaking, migrant and drug interdiction, aids to navigation, search and rescue, and law enforcement. He started at the bottom, following orders, and rose through the ranks to become a leader himself.

“I respected how much knowledge he had in his craft. I learned so much from him,” Petty Officer First Class Ryan Ness said.

Those who worked with Dumville say they respected him and what he brought to their crews. Colleagues say he consistently puts others ahead of himself and has been instrumental in building morale at the base.

Dumville does not know what comes after Kodiak. He said he wants to be closer to his daughter and have more time with her. “It’ll end up being ideally, wherever Alana is, is what I tell people, which kind of leaves it very broad and open because I want to be in community with her.” Was Dumville’s response when asked about his daughter and where he wanted to be after retirement.