About Us

 

Mr. Darrick L. DeWitt retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2017 out of his last assignment as the Command Master Chief for the Coast Guard’s counterterrorism unit. He initially entered military service with the U.S. Army, where he distinguished himself while serving with the 3rd Ranger Battalion and Army Reserve 70th Division (TRN).

 

He joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1990, pursued a career as a Machinery Technician, and served in a number of afloat and ashore positions prior to assignment to a Tactical Law Enforcement Team, where he was responsible for overseeing engineering operations and completing law enforcement patrols.  During this tour, he supported NATO Operation Sharp Guard, a Bosnia arms embargo.

 

His superior performance and dedicated service was noticed and in 1996, he was selected as the U.S. Coast Guard Enlisted Person of the Year.  His afloat time continued as he completed a successful tour on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter HARRIET LANE, where he oversaw the engineering department and served as the Cutter’s Command Chief.  He then served as a Coast Guard Recruit Company Commander, where he provided initial training to new enlistees. Darrick’s strong performance as a Company Commander led to his appointment as the Chief of Company Commander School in Cape May, New Jersey.

 

He continued in the maritime law enforcement field with his next assignment at a Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST), a deployable maritime security unit that was established after the attacks on September 11, 2001.  Once again, Darrick’s professionalism and work ethic led to his selection as the unit’s Command Senior Chief.  He followed this tour at another MSST and was selected as that unit’s Command Senior Chief as well.  Upon reaching the military’s most senior enlisted rank, Master Chief Petty Officer, Darrick was assigned to the Deployable Operations Group and served as the Gold Badge Command Master Chief until his retirement.

 

Darrick graduated from a distinguished list of military schools, including the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer’s Academy, Senior Enlisted Command Master Chief Course, KEYSTONE Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course, Tactical Training Course, Company Commander, Instructor Development, Engineering Petty Officer Ashore, and Army training including Army Ranger, Jungle Warfare, Airborne, and Drill Instructor schools.

 

Darrick's exemplary performance was recognized throughout his distinguished career. Among other awards, he received the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals with "O" device, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals with "O" device, one Army Commendation, one Coast Guard Achievement Medal with "O" device, four Army Achievement Medals, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and the NATO Medal.