Port Security Unit 309

CDR Decker was born in Bluffton, Indiana and graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies education. He started his teaching career at Homestead High School were he has been a Psychology, Sociology, and Government teacher for 20 years. During this time he has also been a baseball coach, driver’s education instructor, and weight room supervisor, among many others, while there.

CDR Decker also possesses a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Ball State University and holds a Secondary Building Level Administrator’s License. He is currently pursuing a second Master’s degree in Homeland Security, with an emphasis on Terrorism Studies, from the American Military University.

In June of 1995 CDR Decker graduated from Reserve Officer Candidate Indoctrination at Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown, VA and was assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Acacia in Charlevoix, MI where he served as in-port Officer Of the Deck and assisted the unit in a variety of missions. In June of 1997 CDR Decker was chosen for a four month active duty assignment that took him to the Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT where he served as an Admission Officer. His duties included the implementation of the International Cadet program, arranging visits from a variety of foreign military services as well as hosting perspective students and their parents. CDR Decker’s performance was recognized in that he was asked to return to the Academy in that position for seven summers between the years 1997-2002, and then again in 2004.

In 1998, CDR Decker was assigned to PSU 309, serving in a variety of positions including as the Administrative Officer, Boat Division Officer, and Engineering Officer. He transferred to Coast Guard Group Grand Haven, MI in the fall of 2002 and was quickly called back when the unit was preparing for deployment in support of Operation Northern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. During that deployment, he served as a Watch Officer and as a Naval Liaison Officer for seven months in Kuwait. In the spring of 2006 CDR Decker served at Sector New Orleans for forty-five days in the Planning Department, as a part of the Coast Guard’s response and recovery efforts to the damages caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Prior to his selection as the Executive Officer at PSU 309, CDR Decker served in the Response Department at Marine Safety Unit Toledo, OH and then as the Senior Reserve Officer for his last year of his tour. CDR Decker has attended the Entry level Port Operations Course, Anti-terrorism Seaport Protection Course, The Joint Military Operations Support Course at the Naval War College and the Reserve Component National Security Course at the National Defense University in Washington D.C

CDR Decker’s Military awards include three Coast Guard Achievement Medals with the operational distinguishing device, the Commandant Letter of Commendation Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation w/ hurricane device and numerous other unit and campaign awards. CDR Decker has qualified and wears the Port Security Badge, the Marine Safety Badge, and the Coast Guard Academy Recruiting Badge