Sector Detroit

Captain Rick Armstrong assumed duty as the Commander of Sector Detroit in June 2023. He oversees eleven subordinate units with an area of responsibility stretching from Vermillion, Ohio west and northward beyond Tawas, Michigan along 427 miles of international border with Canada through Lakes Erie, St. Clair and Huron and along the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers. Prior to assuming command of Sector Detroit, Captain Armstrong served as Deputy Sector Commander in Key West, Florida where he oversaw three multi-mission stations, six Fast Response Cutters, and an Aids to Navigation Team.

Prior to Key West, Captain Armstrong served at the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he synchronized operations across maritime, land, cyber, air, missile, and space domains in support of homeland defense, civil support, and security cooperation missions.

In previous assignments, Captain Armstrong served as Comptroller of the Coast Guard’s Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama where he was responsible for $18 million annually, overseeing all acquisitions and logistics services for the Coast Guard’s largest and most diverse aviation command. He also served as Chief of Incident Management at Sector Maryland – National Capital Region, Financial Analyst for the Coast Guard’s Chief Financial Officer at Headquarters in Washington, D.C., Operational Planner at the Atlantic Area Command in Portsmouth, Virginia, and Deck Watch Officer aboard the VENTUROUS, a medium endurance cutter homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Originally from Syracuse, New York, Captain Armstrong graduated with honors from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Research and Computer Analysis. He also attended Syracuse University and earned a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Public Administration. Captain Armstrong is a Certified Government Financial Manager and has earned the Response Operations Ashore and Advanced Boat Forces insignias. His military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation and Achievement Medals, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbons, and various other personal and unit awards.

CDR Brett McCall serves as the Deputy Sector Commander at Coast Guard Sector Detroit, Detroit, Michigan. He oversees eleven subordinate units and 560 active and reserve members with an area of responsibility stretching from Vermillion, Ohio west and northward beyond Tawas, Michigan along 427 miles of international border with Canada through Lakes Erie, St. Clair and Huron and along the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers.

Prior to this assignment, CDR McCall served as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate at Coast Guard Ninth District, where he oversaw the provision of legal advice and legal services to the Commander, Ninth District, and all subordinate units. He also served as Logistics Department Head for Sector Detroit, where he led the unit’s Personnel Administration, Engineering, and Finance and Supply divisions. CDR McCall’s prior tours as a judge advocate include serving as a Staff Attorney for the Staff Judge Advocates at the Coast Guard Ninth District, in Cleveland, Ohio, the Coast Guard Atlantic Area in Portsmouth, Virginia, and the Office of Military Justice and Command Advice at the Coast Guard Legal Service Command in Norfolk, Virginia. He also served at the Office of Claims and Litigation and the Office of General Law at Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC, and as the Claims Cell Manager and Deputy Claims Cell Manager for the Deepwater Horizon Claims Cell at the National Pollution Funds Center. CDR McCall commenced his career a reserve Staff Attorney for the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans, Louisiana, from August 2008 to April 2011. CDR McCall was previously engaged in the private practice of law from May 2004 until April 2011.

CDR McCall graduated from The Ohio State University, with a B.A. in Criminology in 2000. He received a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2004 and is a member of the Mississippi Bar. CDR McCall joined the Coast Guard Reserves and was commissioned as an Ensign after attending Reserve Officer Candidate Indoctrination in 2008.

CDR McCall’s individual military awards include (2) Meritorious Service Medals, (3) Coast Guard Commendation Medals, (3) Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and (2) Commandant’s Letter of Commendation.

Senior Chief McNamara assumed the duties as Command Senior Chief of Coast Guard Sector Detroit on July 12, 2024, and is the principal advisor to the Sector Commander on all enlisted personnel matters.

He entered the Coast Guard in March 1999 and graduated Recruit Training Center Cape May, Yankee Company 154. Senior Chief McNamara’s first assignment was the USCGC RUSH (WHEC 723) in Honolulu, Hawaii where he struck Boatswains Mate earned Deck Seamanship, Cutter Swimmer, Coxswain Quarter Master of the Watch and Boarding Team Member duties. Senior Chief McNamara next assignment was to Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team, LEDET 102 Combating Counter Drug and Counter Terrorism Operations in the Pacific and Caribbean Theaters, and served in US Central Command /Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003-2005. Senior Chief McNamara’s next assignment in 2007 was to the Maritime Security Response Team - MSRT Chesapeake, VA as a Direct-Action Section- DAS member. In 2011 Senior Chief McNamara reported to Sector Miami Vessel Boarding Search Team -VBST in CG District 7 Miami, Florida and then was assigned back to PACTACLET in 2013, promoted to Chief Maritime Enforcement Specialist and earned LEDET AOIC and Deployable Team Leader qualifications for numerous LEDETs. In 2019 Senior Chief McNamara was assigned to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia, Maritime Engagement Team for a 14-month assignment while in the Middle East. In 2020 Chief McNamara reported to Sector Boston Enforcement Division- Sector Boarding Team conducting Ports Waterways and Coastal Security Missions supporting Captain of the Port Maritime Security Response Operations, as SBT Team Leader and Patrol Commander.

An impressive Law Enforcement career Senior Chief McNamara was as an out of rate Boatswains Mate that eventually transitioned to Maritime Enforcement Specialist earning numerous DSF certifications and competencies. His extensive Operational career has taken him to over 100 countries and territories, earning him overseas restricted duties among arduous deployments.

Senior Chief Petty Officer McNamara is a graduate and president of CPOA class 290, served as President of the Chiefs Mess at Sector Boston and served as Chief of the Mess to the Greater Boston Area Consolidated Chiefs Mess accounting for nearly one hundred active duty, reserve, and retired participating Chief’s within the Mess for the past three years.

Senior Chief McNamara medals include five Coast Guard Commendation Medals, one US Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, one Coast Guard Achievement Medal, three US Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, a Commandant’s letter of Commendation, Iraqi Campaign Medal, CG Restricted Duty Ribbon and various other personal and unit awards. He has earned his Tactical Law Enforcement, Response Operations Ashore and Cutterman insignias.

Commander (CDR) Will D. Spoon enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in February 2003 from Raleigh, NC. After completing basic training in Cape May, NJ, his initial assignment was a Seaman at Station Destin, Destin, FL from April 2003 to September 2004. Within six months he was a certified Boarding Team Member, watch stander and also assisted in multiple community outreach events.

In November 2004, he reported to Training Center Yorktown, Yorktown, VA to attend Marine Science Technician (MST) A School. From 2004 to 2007, Spoon was assigned to Sector Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, where he worked in Waterways Management and Inspections Divisions as well as deploying for several months in support of Hurricane Katrina efforts. Before leaving active duty in 2007, he attained Container Inspector, Facilities Inspector and Pollution Investigator qualifications.

In October 2007, as a civilian, he was hired as a Special Agent/Senior Industrial Security Specialist at the Defense Security Service in Alexandria, VA. Spoon visited Department of Defense (DOD) contractor facilities to conduct security surveys, which included evaluation of organizational structures, physical safeguards and ability to safeguard U.S., NATO and foreign government classified information in the event of disaster or attack. While working at the DOD, he continued to maintain good standing as a Reservist, becoming a Petty Officer First Class.

After five years as an enlisted member, he received his commission as an Ensign through the CG Reserve Officer Candidate Indoctrination Program in 2008. From 2008-2010 he was a drilling Reservist in Inspections and Enforcement Divisions assigned to Sector Seattle, Seattle, WA and Sector Delaware Bay, Philadelphia, PA. From 2010-2014, Spoon deployed to Deepwater Horizon as an Environmental Unit Leader and Public Affairs Officer where he led interagency teams through the development of complex plans which facilitated response activities across a five-state area.

Upon leaving active duty in 2014, Spoon took a civilian job in New Orleans, LA as the first General Service employee hired to help stand up a new Federal micro-agency called the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (GCERC). He coordinated and facilitated the interaction of 11 Federal and State Council Members, State and agency liaisons, Tribal representatives, executive staff, working groups, and other parties to execute the new agency’s restoration missions.

While working as a government civilian, Spoon served as a drilling reservist as Sector New Orleans Enforcement Division Lead, Sector North Carolina Reserve Incident Management Division Response Supervisor, Trainer with LANTAREA (LANT 35-IM) Incident Management Team and the National Strike Force Incident Management Assist Team. His previous assignment was project lead on the Climate and Arctic Security project for the Joint Staff (J7) - Allies and Partners Force Development Division, coordinating 11 international partners, 25 US partners & centers of expertise, ensuring crosscutting benefits and advancement of US interests. He continues to voluntarily activate each year, including six months on 2017 hurricane responses, three months on COVID support in 2020, 6 months in support of the Great Lakes Oil Spill Center of Expertise in 2023 and two months in support of Hurricane Helene in Tennessee.

In 2008 he completed a Master of Science in Quality Systems Management through the National Graduate School in Baltimore, MD that utilized the Lean and Six Sigma approaches to improve productivity and reduce waste in administrative and operational processes. He also has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina. His personal decorations include the Marine Safety Insignia, Coast Guard Commendation Medal (4 awards), Coast Guard Achievement Medal (3 awards) and numerous other team and unit service awards.

CDR Spoon assumed the duties of Sector Detroit Senior Reserve Officer in October 2024. In his civilian career, he consults with freshwater focused organizations on water quality initiatives. He also acquires, develops and manages housing initiatives across North Carolina.

YNC Webb enlisted in the Coast Guard in June 2001 at the age of 27. Following graduation from Boot Camp in Cape May, New Jersey, he was assigned to CGC Tahoma homeported in New Bedford, MA as a Fireman in the Engineering Department. He attended YN “A” School in Petaluma, CA in June 2002. After graduating from “A” school, he was stationed at ATC Mobile, AL from 2002-2005 working in the PERSRU. Following his tour in Mobile, AL he left Active Duty to affiliate with the Reserves. Throughout his Reserve Career, he has been stationed at Sector Detroit, Michigan, NMC Martinsburg, WV, MSU Toledo, OH, ICP Mandeville, LA (Hurricane Katrina), MSU Morgan City, LA, PSU 308, Kiln, MS, D8 Legal, New Orleans, LA, CG-1331, Washington, DC Base Cleveland, OH DOL Norfolk, VA and PSU 305, Ft. Eustis, VA and currently serves as the Reserve Silver Badge for Sector Detroit.

Throughout his career YNC Webb has deployed in support of Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina, Rita, Wilma, Isaac, Harvey, and Maria. He has served on Active Duty twice at District Eight in New Orleans, LA as a member of the Hurricane Katrina Awards Cell and Hurricane Harvey Awards Cell and in 2020 he was recalled to the DOL supporting COVID-19 vaccination sites as well as mobilizing medical teams to the Southwest Border Operations.

In 2015, then Petty Officer First Class Webb volunteered for a deployment with Port Security Unit 308. During this deployment he was the independent Personnel and Administration support for more than 80 personnel in addition to supporting the Office of Military Commissions in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Once again, in 2022-2023 YNC Webb returned to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba supporting MARSECDET 305 for the final PSU mission.

Following his return from his 2015 deployment he was assigned to the Eighth District Legal Staff where he supported 4 Reserve JAG Officers offering Legal Assistance. In 2018 he was selected as the Human Resources Specialist for CG-1331 where he was the Discharge Review Board Administration Manager.

YNC Webb is a proud graduate of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Academy, Class R-52 and completed CCTI in the spring of 2022 with the Greater Detroit Chief’s Mess. He also has an associate’s degree in Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration on Human Resources Management from the University of Management and Technology in Arlington, VA.

YNC Webb’s personal awards include the CG Commendation Medal, CG Achievement Medal (5), CG Commandant Letter of Commendation (3), DOT 9-11 Medal, CG Good Conduct Medal (2) CG Reserve Good Conduct Medal (5) and numerous unit and team citations. YNC Webb was born in Detroit, Michigan and lived in the metro Detroit area for 27 years before joining the Coast Guard. In 2020 he returned home and is now a Coast Guard Civilian and serves as the Executive Assistant to the Sector Commander, USCG Sector Detroit, MI.