The Basics
Name: Tanner Stiehl
Degree: Bachelor’s in Media Communication Studies
Graduation Year: 2011
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Current City: Pago Pago, American Samoa
Job: Marine Safety Detachment Supervisor, US Coast Guard
Meet Tanner
Who do you admire and why?
My dad Mark Stiehl. He was a FSU communication major in the 80s and got me started on the path I am on.
What Jeopardy category could you clear, no problem?
Types of Fish.
Favorite snack?
Cheetos.
Best account to follow on social media?
Jim Kramer (I’m a stock market hobbyist).
Best piece of advice you’ve received?
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
The Career
Tell us about your job:
I am the supervisor of the four man coast guard detachment in American Samo. We enforce environmental and safety regulations. As the supervisor I am doing the job sometimes, but also managing.
What does your average day look like?
Every day is different. I may be inspecting a ship, investigating a shipping accident or going to meeting with local government about policy.
How did your education prepare you for your career?
It helps in so many ways. I am doing public relations type stuff when working with the community and using things I learned in classes like nonverbal when interviewing potential polluters.
How has working in your industry changed the way you look at the world?
I never realized how important commercial shipping was to the global economy.
Share a notable experience you’ve had at work?
About two years after graduating I was working in New Orleans in the Coast Guard and I was put in charge of all our public relations. Three weeks later there was a major oil spill and I was writing press releases that were being read on Fox News and CNN. I even had an interview played on NPR.
Who do you look to for inspiration?
I feel like I have always been internally motivated, but I recently got engaged, so now I have my amazing fiancé to look to for motivation.
How do you handle work-life balance?
It was tough my first few years out of school, but the coast guard is very supportive of helping you out. Managing priorities is key.
What advice would you give yourself in college?
Your GPA matters. I got the coast guard offer the summer between my sophomore and junior year, so I never really tried hard to make As. Now I’m going back to law school and I’m wishing my GPA would have been better.