Tuesday Talks: Senior Chief Ross Comstock: The History of the Coast Guard in New England

VIRTUAL LECTURE

Today’s Coast Guard, as we know it, was derived from several services that were combined in 1915.  Two of these services were the Lifesaving Service and the Lighthouse Service, which had their beginnings right here in New England. Much of the Coast Guard’s history comes from Massachusetts alone. Please join us as BMCS Ross Comstock, commander of the Chatham Coast Guard Station, discusses this fascinating and little known history of one of the most historically relevant military branches in Massachusetts.

ABOUT ROSS COMSTOCK:

Senior Chief Comstock is a 2000 graduate of Sallisaw High School in Sallisaw, OK, where he enlisted in the Navy in September of 2000 and served as an Aviation Electronics Technician aboard the Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.  He then enlisted in the Coast Guard in February of 2005.  He assumed command of Coast Guard Station Chatham in May of 2022.  His previous assignments include Executive Petty Officer of Station Portsmouth, VA, USCG Cutter DECISIVE, USCG Station Chincoteague, VA, USCG Station Port Aransas, TX, USCG Cutter BRANT, and USCG Station Oregon Inlet, NC.

BMCS Comstock’s awards include the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, four Coast Guard Achievement Medals, and four Coast Guard Team Commendation Medals in addition to other personal and service awards. He has earned the Permanent Cutterman insignia, the Advanced Boat Forces Operations insignia, and the Officer in Charge Afloat and Ashore competencies.

A graduate of Class 236 of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy, he has attended various service related and leadership courses and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Emergency Management from Ashford University.

As an active volunteer in the community, Senior Chief Comstock contributes to Amateur Radio Emergency Services and is a Certified Storm Spotter for NOAA’s SKYWARN program.  He previously served two years as the ARES District Emergency Coordinator for Virginia’s Eastern Shore and as Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Aransas County in Texas.

BMCS Comstock is married to the former April Hudson of Willis Wharf, VA and they have two children, Elliott age 10 and Landon 6.