The CPO Academy site has information about the CG CPO. Very interesting information available there. An excerpt from one of the articles posted there concerning "who was first" .

"National Archives Reveals Historical First Chiefs
CWO Guy Cashman, USCG

Who was actually promoted to Chief on May 18th, 1920 ?

General Order No. 43 was the original message that advanced a select few individuals to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. However, these shipmates have remained nameless to most of us. The historical published records (U. S. Coast Guard Record of Movements 1790-1933) of a ship's crew include only the Officers and Chief Warrant Officers. Pay records have been recorded on everything from three by five index cards to ledgers and are stored in several locations throughout the country. The Coast Guard Historian's Office has no records of enlisted members who were promoted while assigned to the numerous vessels, lighthouses, and life-saving stations in service during the 1920's.

Aside from the various shore stations, the U.S. Coast Guard had 129 vessels and 1 air station on May 18th, 1920. Which ships or units rated a Chief is still being researched. Regardless, only 5 vessels (Cutters Algonquin, Ossippee, Morrill, Earp and Tybee) had log transcripts, muster rolls or payroll records still intact at the National Archives in Washington, D. C. On four of those cutters, eight petty officers were identified as being promoted to Chief. They were:

USCGC Algonquin Ship's muster role, identifies rate & rank.
CGM (Chief Gunners Mate) A. Wold
CEM (Chief Electricians Mate) R. F. Dibb
CMM (Chief Machinist Mate) G. H. Davis

USCGC Earp Ship's log transcript, General Order #43, transfers, underway entries.
CBM (Chief Boatswain's Mate) S. Christiansen
CMM F. A. Kleindt
CGM John Ask

USCGC Tybee Ship's log transcript, promotions from General Order #43.
CBM John Starr

USCGC Ossipee Ship's muster role, annotates promotion endorsement.
CMM W. W. DeWever .............."

CPO Academy website at Petaluma Training Center.