Captain Blake Novak, U.S. Coast Guard, is a military fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. A seasoned maritime security professional, he most recently served as the director of maritime law enforcement, security, and defense operations, where he developed and implemented policies to control, secure, and defend U.S. maritime borders against evolving threats. In this role, he spearheaded initiatives to enhance maritime domain awareness and interagency collaboration, safeguarding national interests and economic security.

Prior to his headquarters assignment, Captain Novak served as the Oceania District chief of staff, overseeing all Coast Guard operations throughout Oceania, including Hawai’i, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and activities in Singapore and Japan. In this capacity, he directed resources and coordinated operations to counter illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and partnered with Pacific island countries to bolster regional security and stability.

A career cutterman with extensive operational experience, Captain Novak commanded five ships, culminating in his command of the National Security Cutter Munro. While in command of Munro, he led critical missions patrolling the Eastern Pacific, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean, enforcing U.S. sovereignty and protecting vital resources. Novak also executed the lawful and inaugural joint Navy and Coast Guard Taiwan Strait transit with the USS Kidd, reinforcing a rules-based international order and deterring destabilizing activities.

Captain Novak’s previous staff assignments include shaping policy and building teams responsible for operational requirements, cutter scheduling, strategic homeporting of the cutter fleet, and law enforcement activities. His deep understanding of national security planning was further honed during his two years in the White House as the military aide to the vice president, where he was entrusted with carrying “the football” and continuity of government operations.

Captain Novak is a 1995 Graduate from the Coast Guard Academy, holds a bachelor of science degree in government, and master of arts degree in defense and strategic studies from the Naval War College.