Commodore's Page
Welcome to the District 17 DCO web page.
David Larkin entered the United States Air Force as a Firefighter-EMT in 1982 and served for four years before seeing the light and transferring to the U.S. Coast Guard. Duty stations included Marine Safety Office Puget Sound, Marine Safety Detachment Tacoma, USCGC Cuttyhunk, PSU-313 (plankowner), TRACEN Yorktown, MSST Seattle (plankowner), Harbor Defense Command 113, Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron 33 (plankowner), and Group Port Angeles. He deployed twice in response to the terrorist attacks on 9-11 and again to the Middle East as the operations chief and lead LE boarding officer for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He retired in 2006 as a Senior Chief Port Security Specialist and joined the auxiliary component in 2008 after many years as a search and rescue/counter narcotics mission pilot for the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, leaving with the rank of Major. He has served in all elected positions up to District Chief of Staff in both District 13 and 17 before assuming the watch as the current District Commodore for D17. He served on the national staff as the Division Chief for surface operations, Branch Assistant for Nursing Services in the Health Service Division and is currently an instructor for the Auxiliary Upper-Level Officers Course.
David is a former law enforcement officer and sergeant for 3 departments, Firefighter-EMT-III and lieutenant for five departments, critical care transport nurse for four EMS agencies, ER nurse in multiple trauma centers, and sailed for 6 years as a merchant marine staff officer for NOAA, a cruise line, and the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command. He is now working for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a Nurse Care Manager and adjunct faculty for the University of Alaska-Southeast. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix and a double Masters in Disaster and Emergency Management/Homeland Security from the American Military University.
His decorations include the Port Security Qualification Device, Navy/Marine Corp Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Coast Guard Commandants Letter of Commendation with 2 gold stars, Good Conduct Medal with 3 silver stars, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Coast Guard Special Operations Service ribbon with two bronze stars, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze hourglass, and three mobilizations, the Coast Guard Rifleman medal with silver E, and the Coast Guard Pistol medal with silver E. D17 Alaska
JOIN US
Since its creation by Congress in 1939, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (the Auxiliary) has served as the civilian, non-military component of the Coast Guard. Today, the 30,000 volunteer men and women of the Auxiliary are active on the waterways and classrooms in over 2,000 cities and towns across the nation.
Each year, Auxiliarists save almost 500 lives, assist some 15,000 boaters in distress, conduct more than 150,000 courtesy safety examinations of recreational vessels, and teach over 500,000 students in boating and water safety courses. The results of these efforts save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
WHY JOIN THE AUXILIARY?
Be Part of the Action & Help Save Lives
Since the recreational boating population in the United States is growing rapidly, the Coast Guard Auxiliary needs a few good men and women like you. As an Auxiliarist, you will have the opportunity to select and participate in one or more of the Auxiliary's major programs. If you feel strongly about the rewards you can get from serving your community, the Coast Guard Auxiliary is the right place for you! Either through on- water Operations, the Auxiliary's Public Education Program, Courtesy Examination Program, Radio Watchstander, Coast Guard Recruiting, Marine Environmental Protection or Coast Guard Administration.
Increase Your Skills.
The Auxiliary and the Coast Guard provide specialized training on all aspects of boating, as well as leadership and administration. Auxiliarists receive valuable training in seamanship and related skills, and enjoy the sense of confidence of knowing that they are better and safer boaters.
Support the Coast Guard
Auxiliarists provide direct operational and administrative support to many local Coast Guard units. You can wear the Coast Guard Auxiliary uniform and become part of Team Coast Guard. When you qualify through training, you can take part in Search and Rescue operations, stand radio watch at the Coast Guard Station, work with the Marine Safety Office on pollution matters or work in the Recruiting Office.
Service to Your Community
Auxiliarists aren't paid with money, but with satisfaction. We furnish and maintain our own equipment and can choose to participate at a level tailored to our individual capabilities. We provide boating safety classes for youth and adults and examine recreational vessel for safety equipment to ensure that our neighbors will be safe on the waterways.
Enjoy Fun & Fellowship
In all activities, enjoy fellowship - the good company of other Auxiliarists at meetings and training sessions, on patrols and other missions, and at ceremonies and social events. One of he Auxiliary's trademarks is good old-fashioned hospitality. Friends, neighbors and interested members of the public are always welcome to attend one of our flotilla meetings. In addition, dedication to boating safety provides the atmosphere for getting together to swap boating experiences and participate in cruises and rendezvous. You'll find a special camaraderie among Auxiliarists that's hard to beat. There's time to relax and have fun at Auxiliary outings, training sessions, patrols, CMEs, classes, and conferences. Auxiliarists make lasting, meaningful friendships. Knowing that you belong to a special group of people that directly participate in helping save lives gives your Auxiliary membership a special meaning.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT JOINING THE AUXILIARY
Please feel free to contact us either by telephone or via ONLINE FORM. Your inquiry will be forwarded to an Auxiliary member who lives in your general area for follow-up.
Depending on which area of Alaska you boat at there are different Flotilla's that operate around the state. However, if you live in Anchorage or Fairbanks, the members of those flotillas boat in different locations like Seward or Valdez or Whittier! It is all a matter of investigating the different choices or you just might want to join up with the flotilla your friends belong to or boat out of! You can get more information on the different flotillas under the Visitor Information link above, just go to the Local Flotilla Websites menu and chose from the list.
JOIN NOW