Ted Deutsch

AUX Deutsch currently serves as the Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla CGD-H-ER-05-01 Cincinnati, Ohio, where he leads the execution of the support of active duty Coast Guard personnel and their marine safety and security efforts at Marine Safety Detachment Cincinnati. He also currently serves as the Flotilla Staff Officer for Human Resources.

He became the Commander of the Flotilla following service of a year as the Vice Commander of Division 5, where he managed and led the Division Staff Officers. 

AUX Deutsch holds a bachelor degree in psychology with a minor in political science from Ohio University. He now owns and operates the American Israelite. 

He is certified as an Vessel Examiner and is a Boat Crew trainee. AUX Deutsch’s awards include four Auxiliary Sustained Service Awards, four Coast Guard Unit Commendations, the Examiner Program Ribbon, two Auxiliary Vessel Examination and RBS Visitation Program Service Performance Awards, two Auxiliary Membership Ribbons, and a DHS Outstanding Unit Award. 

AUX Deutsch is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and still makes it his home, along with his wife. 

Spencer Gerdes

 AUXOP Gerdes currently serves as the Vice Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla CGD-H-ER-05-01 Cincinnati, Ohio, where he leads the execution of the support of active duty Coast Guard personnel and their marine safety and security efforts at Marine Safety Detachment Cincinnati. He also currently serves as the Flotilla Staff Officer for Navigation Systems. As the VFC and chief of staff, he is the de facto acting-Flotilla Staff Officer for all vacant FSO roles until a qualified candidate can be selected. 

He became the Vice Commander of the Flotilla following service of over a year as the Flotilla Staff Officer for AuxScout and Youth Programs (FSO-AS), where he supported the implementation of the AuxScout Program, a joint educational and youth development program between the Sea Scouts of Scouting America and the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary. He oversaw Coast Guard involvement in multiple major Scouting America events. 

While assigned as the FSO-AS, AUXOP Gerdes served as the Auxiliary University Program Intern for Marine Safety Detachment Cincinnati. In this role, he assisted the inspection of passenger vessels, aided in conducting multiple security spot checks, supported multiple facility inspections, conducted several transfer monitors, responded to multiple marine pollution incidents, trained with the EPA's Environmental Response Team for backwater and fastwater oil spill response, assisted with waterways management activities, taught waterways management PQS materials to other Auxiliarists under the supervision of a 1st Class Marine Science Technician, participated in emergency drills and continuity of operation exercises, properly disposed of sensitive documents that were no longer needed, and helped write regulations for the Code of Federal Regulations that were reviewed by a 1st Class Marine Science Technician before being moved up the chain for final authorization from the District’s legal personnel. 

Prior to all of his other roles, AUXOP Gerdes served in the most important role of the Auxiliary - a Flotilla member. As a Flotilla member he got to know what the Auxiliary was about, learned the role the Auxiliary plays in the overall mission of the Coast Guard, learned the basics of the Auxiliary, and he got to participate in a variety of program areas to support the Coast Guard. He also joined the Auxiliary University Program to prepare for a career in the U.S. Coast Guard. 

AUXOP Gerdes holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and undergraduate certificates in Deaf Studies, Forensic Populations, and Crime & Intelligence Analysis from the University of Cincinnati. He has finished degree requirements for a Bachelor of Art degree in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati. He is also currently progressing through a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice (with concentrations in Law Enforcement/Crime Prevention and Crime, Law, & Justice) and graduate certificates in Analysis of Criminal Behavior and Crime Analysis & Prevention from the University of Cincinnati. He has also done coursework at the Naval Postgraduate School in classes related to homeland security, cyber threats and security, adversarial nations, intelligence, and critical infrastructure. He has also earned the Infrastructure Protection professional certificate from Texas A&M and is completing coursework for several professional certificates in cybersecurity from Texas A&M, all through the Department of Homeland Security’s National Domestic Preparedness Consortium. He is also taking nuclear and WMD-related counterterrorism courses with the Nevada National Security Site’s Center for Radiological/Nuclear Training. 

He is certified as an Operational Auxiliarist, Vessel Examiner, and Emergency Management Incident Command System Staff. He is a Boat Crew trainee. AUXOP Gerdes’ awards include three Auxiliary Sustained Service Awards, a Coast Guard Unit Commendation, the Examiner Program Ribbon, and three Specialty Training Program awards. In 2023, he received a commendation from Marine Safety Detachment Cincinnati for his service rendered while an AUP Intern. In 2019, the Boy Scouts of America awarded him his Eagle Scout rank. He also earned his Summit Award for the Venturing program in 2022 and was awarded his Quartermaster Sea Scout rank in 2023, both from the Boy Scouts of America as well. He is also a member of the Society of American Military Engineers in the Kitty Hawk Post based out of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. 

AUXOP Gerdes is a native of Mason, Ohio. He currently makes Cincinnati, OH, his home.