District Bridge
Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX)
CDR Otani
CDR David Otani is a native of La Palma, CA (near Disneyland, 15 minutes without traffic, or two and a half hours with traffic). He attended Buena Park High School, where he was active in swimming, water polo and Future Farmers of America. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Biology from California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo (and is now a co-alumnus along with hall-of-famers John Madden, Ozzy Smith, and Weird Al Yankovic!) He then joined the U.S. Peace Corps, serving two years in Botswana, Africa working with the Department of Wildlife.
He started his two-year Coast Guard enlistment in July 1998, thinking it would be a fun, quick adventure before settling down into a public education career. As it turned out, the Coast Guard’s missions of saving man from the sea, and sea from man was the perfect formula.
His prior assignments include: *Waterways Management Division Chief – Sector San Juan, Puerto Rico; *International Port Security Liaison Officer – Atlantic Area Portsmouth, VA; *Vessel Inspections Division Chief - Marine Safety Unit, Chicago, IL; *Maritime Course Oversight Auditor – Sector Boston, MA; *Vessel Inspector – Sector Corpus Christi, TX; *Deck Watch Officer – USCGC Firebush, Kodiak, AK; *Marine Science Technician – USCGC Polar Sea, Seattle, WA; *Seaman – USCGC Galveston Island, Hagatña, Guam.
Prior to this assignment with the Fifth Coast Guard District Auxiliary, he served as the Compliance Branch Chief within the Force Readiness Command Assessments division in Norfolk, VA. He was responsible to three unique activities including Mission Management System of the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety operations at Sector Prevention and Marine Safety Units, business rules for Coast Guard standardization programs, and Defense Readiness Reporting, capturing cutter fleet and deployable specialized forces data for global DoD response and strategy.
He is married to Tammy Otani, originally from Seattle Washington. They have two wonderful children, Mari (16) who is infatuated with her high school ROTC program and WWII military history, and Quinn (11) who loves to create anything with her hands. He has a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from Troy University but wants a refund because he still cannot organize his kids. They have a full house with a dog, two cats, and many freshwater tropical fish. He remains secretly hopeful for a reptile and parrot.
District Commodore (DCO)
John Krogmann
John was born and raised in Virginia. His family is deeply rooted in both a love of our Country and a love of the sea. John’s grandfather served in the Navy in World War I. His father, John Sr., a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, served in WWII and was later commissioned as a Naval Officer, before serving in Korea.
John earned a B.A. from Bridgewater College and successfully completed the Executive Presence and Influence Program at The Wharton School, Aresty Institute of Executive Education where he focused his studies in the area of persuasive leadership development. He continues to work in the exploration end of the oil and gas industry. He has served as the President of the Virginia Association of Petroleum Landmen, and as both a Member and a Director on the Executive Committee of the American Association of Professional Landman. Additionally, he has served as a Director of the Independent Petroleum Association of America. He further was elected to and served in the position of President of Post 8241 of the VFW Auxiliary for a number of years.
John’s dedication to public service led him to the Coast Guard Auxiliary. After hearing a radio advertisement for the Auxiliary on a local Roanoke station back in May 2002, John’s interest was sparked, and he became a member of Flotilla 81 in July 2002. Within a few months of joining, John was afforded the opportunity to augment on the CGC Chock based out of Portsmouth, Virginia. Subsequently, John also served on the CGC Pelican in Abbeville, Louisiana and the CGC Sawfish in Key West, Florida.
Krogmann’s decorations include the Medal of Operational Merit, the Auxiliary Commendation Medal, and the Auxiliary Achievement Medal. He has also received multiple Coast Guard Unit Commendations and Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation Awards. In 2016, John was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the President of the United States in recognition of his lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service. That said, his most cherished award remains the Cutterman Insignia which he received in 2005, memorializing his time on the CGC Chock.
John currently holds a 100 Ton Master Captain’s License. In addition to his work with the Auxiliary, John, a certified NRA Pistol and Shotgun Instructor, teaches basic shooting defense, as well as the “Refuse to be a Victim” class. He also teaches Martial Arts to the military, law enforcement agencies, as well as to the general public. For a number of years, he has had the honor of training the U.S. Special Forces in hand-to-hand combat on both the national and international level.
In his “spare time” Krogmann also enjoys hunting, fishing, shooting Sporting Clays and especially spending time with his family. He and his wife, Carole’, a Virginia attorney, are currently raising their two daughters, who are quite curious about the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary activities they have attended over the last few years.
District Chief of Staff (DCOS)
Jim Thomas
Jim started college at Concord University in Athens WV on a
NASA Physics Scholarship. But during his 1st semester his love of
music called him to become a Trumpet Music Major. Transferring to West Virginia
University in Morgantown WV provided more musical opportunities, taking applied
trumpet lessons, study conducting, and scoring & arranging with Resident
& Adjunct Professors from WVU and the Pittsburgh Symphony. During his
college career Jim performed with a variety of musical organizations from
symphonic bands, chamber orchestras, baroque ensembles, brass quintets, to
marching bands, jazz bands, and pep bands. He graduated with a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Music Education with a goal of becoming a college/university
director of bands.
But life changes and Jim’s love of music created another opportunity, Jim founded what was to later become West Virginia’s only statewide Audio/Video/Electronics Chain. After 25-years of managing the company that he founded, Jim sold the company and moved to the Northern Neck of Virginia seeking milder winters and the slower paced life in the Chesapeake Bay area.
He purchased his first boat and realized that to fully enjoy boating on the Chesapeake Bay and tributary rivers he needed more boating knowledge. He enrolled in the Auxiliary Boating Skills & Seamanship Course and even the 14-nights spent in the classroom did not provide the knowledge and skills he felt necessary for safe boating on large waterways. When the class ended several of the Instructors asked Jim to consider joining the Auxiliary to continue his boating education with AUXOP courses, Boat Crew & Coxswain training.
Jim joined the Auxiliary in July 1998, became Boat Crew Qualified in 1999, Instructor Qualified in 1999, Vessel Examiner Qualified in 2000, Aids Verifier Qualified in 2000, AUXOP Qualified in 2001, Coast Guard Watch-stander Qualified in 2001, and Coxswain Qualified in 2002. The Auxiliary has certainly provided incredible opportunities to learn.
Jim has served Flotilla 054-03-03 as FSO-CS, FSO-IS, FSO-PA, FSO-PB, FSO-SR, VFC, & FC; Division 054-03 as SO-PB, SO-SR, VCP (VCDR), & DCP (DCDR); District 054 as DSO-IS, DSO-MT, & DDC-L; and National as BA-UII, BA-UID, & DVC-UI.
Jim and wife Amy (a member since 1991) have owned 4 Operational Facilities that have conducted nearly 550 patrols under Coast Guard Orders. Over 100 of these patrols provided 2-boat training support to Coast Guard Station Milford Haven in Hudgens VA and nearly 70 SAR cases have been successfully executed. Supporting the Active-Duty Coast Guard and assisting the recreational boating public is what Jim and Amy love to do.
District Captain- National Capital Region (DCAPT- NCR)
. 
Henry Hays
Henry joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary in 2009 and is a
member of Flotilla 24-09 in Bowie-Davidsonville, Maryland.Soon after joining the Auxiliary, he qualified as boat
crew. Henry’s experience in the boat
crew program showed him the value of working with others across Flotillas and
Divisions.
During the past several years he has had the opportunity to develop his interests in Marine Safety and Environmental Protection. Henry received the Trident device in 2022 and he currently supports the Sector MD-NCR Waterways Management Division. He is also currently serving as the ADSO-MS for Sector MD-NCR.
Henry is a mechanical engineer by training and profession. He recently retired after 39 years of Federal service and has worked for the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Agriculture. For nearly 30 years of this time, he served as a project manager for the planning, design, construction, and commissioning of major federal building projects. He is currently working part time as a project manager supporting Department of Agriculture projects.
Henry’s interests include traveling, especially to other countries. He has celebrated birthdays in 13 countries on six continents. His hobbies include outside projects on his four-acre property and collecting fossils along the shore of the Chesapeake Bay.
Henry has been married to his wonderful wife Melody for over 10 years, and he also has a wonderful daughter, Amy.
District Captain- Sector North Carolina (DCAPT- SNC)
Joe Nemeth
Joe joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary in 2010 and is a member of flotilla 10-01 in Wrightsville Beach,NC. Joe spent his childhood on the water with his family in the fishing and boating industry in thewaters of coastal NC. in 1997; Joe obtained a 100-ton master license with the US Coast Guard. He has spent many years on the coastal waters of the eastern united states in various capacities and vessels, from line boats, tugboats, push boats, dinner vessels, casino boats, and more.
In the Coast Guard Auxiliary, his focus has been on RBS and Marine Safety. However, Vessel exams are his favorite! Joe most recently served as the Auxiliary Sector Coordinator in Sector NC, where he built a strong relationship with the Sector Command and staff. Previously Joe served as Division Commander in Division 10 SE Coastal NC.
While his family has continued in the boating industry, and they sometimes call him back to help, Joe now enjoys owning and operating his own business in the Ophthalmic equipment industry. In his spare time, Joe’s hobbies are mountain biking, farming, and bow hunting on his 40-acre farm.
District Captain- Sector Virginia (DCAPT- SVA)
David H. Gamble
David and his wife Patricia are Philadelphia-area natives. David earned his undergraduate degree from Bucknell University and graduated with Honor from the University of Maryland School of Law. He was admitted to the Bar in Maryland, D.C., and several Federal courts.
David had a full career in law enforcement as a Special Agent investigating fraud against the Government and integrity of public officials. He worked for the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs and achieved the rank of Senior Executive. David retired in 2014 with over 39 years of Federal service.
David began volunteering to support the Coast Guard Academy’s Admissions Office shortly after his daughter became a Cadet in 1994. As National President of the Parents’ Association, he worked with Admissions on the establishment of CGATE (the predecessor to today’s Academy Admissions Partner Program) and was recognized by the Academy Superintendent with the Coast Guard Public Service Award.
After their daughter’s graduation in 1999, David and his wife joined the Auxiliary so they could continue to support the Academy through the Auxiliary’s Career Counseling and Academy Admissions Partner programs.
Since retiring, David has served the Auxiliary in successive leadership capacities and has provided administrative support in the Director’s office. But his favorite activity continues to be augmenting the active-duty crews of 87‑foot Coastal Patrol Boats. David first qualified as an Inport OOD in 2005, further certified as an Underway Crew Member of the Watch, and then was awarded the Auxiliary Cutterman Insignia in 2016.
David and his wife Patricia moved to Williamsburg in 2003, where they ultimately retired. They have eight grandchildren and their three children have continued their parents’ tradition of public service. One daughter is a career Coast Guard officer, another is a fellow lawyer, and their son is a career Foreign Service Officer.
Immediate Past District Commodore (IPDCO)
Allen Fredd
On a Saturday morning many years ago, Allen was sitting in the
cockpit of his sailboat at Yankee Point Marina in Lancaster County,
Virginia when gentleman in a blue uniform approached asking “would you
like to have a vessel safety check?” The Vessel Examiner and vessel
safety check were Allen’s introduction to the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
After retiring in 2006 and moving to Edenton, NC in 2007, he joined the
Auxiliary (Flotilla 16 01 in Elizabeth City, NC) and became involved in
several areas ultimately focusing on marine safety and environmental
protection and the Coast Guard Academy Admissions Partner Program. In
the spring of 2010, he received his Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiner
and Uninspected Passenger Vessel Examiner designations and, in 2011, his
Trident device. He has served as the North Carolina Coordinator for the
Academy Admissions Partner program and has served as a member of the
Coast Guard Academy Admissions Partner Management and Advisory Board.
His Auxiliary service includes elected and appointed positions at the
flotilla, division and district levels. In January, 2016, he was
appointed District Directorate Chief – Response. He was elected District
Captain for Sector North Carolina in September 2016, District Chief of
Staff in September 2018 and District Commodore in September 2020.
A native of Alexandria, Virginia and an Ole Miss graduate, Allen’s
professional life was spent on college campuses including 35 years at
the University of Richmond from where he retired in the spring of 2006.
His work at UR included administrative responsibilities in student
affairs and intercollegiate athletics with his last position being
Senior Associate Director of Athletics. Retirement from UR opened the
door to the Auxiliary and its many opportunities.