Commanding Officer
Captain Donald E. Culkin, Jr.

Captain Culkin took command of Base Elizabeth City in May 2011. His previous tour of duty was at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC, where he served from July 2009 to April 2011 as the Deputy Director of Health, Safety, and Work-Life. In this position, he oversaw the Coast Guard’s healthcare, safety, and family support programs, ensuring timely and appropriate support of Coast Guard personnel and their families around the globe.

Captain Culkin has had a diverse career, having served in a variety of operational and staff assignments. A Cutterman, he has served as a Deck Watch Officer on United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) SWEETGUM (WLB-309) and USCGC MORGENTHAU (WHEC-722), as Operations Officer in USCGC DEPENDABLE (WMEC-626) and USCGC DAUNTLESS (WMEC-624), and as Executive Officer in USCGC VENTUROUS (WMEC-625). Shore assignments include the following: USCG Unitas/West African Training Cruise Detachment, Coast Guard Atlantic Area, Governors Island, NY; Intelligence Watch Officer, Joint Task Force Five, Alameda, CA; Chief, Congressional Hearings Team, Office of Budget, Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, DC; and Chief, Medical Administration Branch, Health and Safety Division, Maintenance and Logistics Command, Atlantic, in Norfolk, VA.

A native of New York City, Captain Culkin holds a Bachelor of Science in Government from the United States Coast Guard Academy and a Master of Health Administration from Baylor University. He is board certified in both medical practice management and healthcare administration, and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Executive Officer
Commander Jeffrey C. Westling

Jeffrey C. Westling is a native of Minneapolis, MN and a 1991 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He completed his Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Regent University in Virginia Beach in May 2000 and was awarded the Master of Arts in Security Studies (Homeland Defense and Security) from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security in September 2010. He is a licensed Professional Engineer (Civil Engineering) in Washington State and holds the Department of Homeland Security’s Acquisition Program Manager Level III certification.

His previous assignments include: Inspector for the 378’ WHEC Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) project at Resident Inspection Office Seattle, WA; Engineer Officer in Training on USCGC MIDGETT (WHEC-726) in Seattle, WA; Acquisition, Construction & Improvement Shore Construction Program Manager at the Maintenance & Logistics Command Atlantic, Governors Island, NY; Fifth Coast Guard District Civil Engineer at Integrated Support Command Portsmouth, VA; Chief, Academic and Leadership & Management Sections at Coast Guard Officer Candidate School, New London, CT and Chief, Direct Commission Officer School and Chief, Reserve Officer Candidate Indoctrination Course at New London, CT; Chief, Planning and Administration Division for Civil Engineering Unit Oakland, CA; Logistics Department Head / Commanding Officer, Military Personnel at Sector Buffalo, NY, and Commanding Officer of the Nationwide Automatic Identification System (NAIS) Project Resident Office.

Commander Westling’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, six Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Commandant’s Letter of Commendations, Armed Forces Service Medal, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

Command Master Chief
DCCM Brett A. Wickett

Damage Control Master Chief Brett A. Wickett assumed the role of Command Master Chief Base Elizabeth City, NC in November 2011.
Master Chief Wickett is a native of Muldrow, OK and a 1981 graduate of Muldrow High School, OK. He entered the Coast Guard in March 1990, advanced to Chief Petty Officer in 2003 and advanced to Master Chief in 2011.

His previous duty tours have included CG Group Astoria, OR (twice), CGC SEDGE Homer, AK, CGC MUSKINGUM Sallisaw, OK, CG Group Southeast Harbor, ME, CGC MOHAWK Key West, FL, CG Group Upper Mississippi River (UMR), Keokuk, IA, CG Atlantic Strike Team (AST), Ft Dix, NJ, CG ISC New Orleans, LA, CG NESU New Orleans, LA, and CG BSU Elizabeth City, NC before being selected as BASE Elizabeth City’s first full time Command Master Chief. Master Chief Wickett has previously held the collateral duty CMC position at Group UMR, AST, NESU and BSU.

Master Chief Wickett is a graduate of the CG Chief Petty Officer’s Academy class CXVI and the CG Command Master Chief Course class II. He holds an Associates of Applied Science in Military Leadership from Rio Salado College where he also served on the degree advisory review board and is currently enrolled at Columbia Southern University where he is completing his Bachelor of Science Business Administration - Human Resource Management.

Master Chief Wickett’s awards include the CG Meritorious Service Medal w/“O”, CG Commendation Medal, four CG Achievement Medals w/”O” , CG Commandants Letter of Commendation w/”O”, seven CG Good Conduct Awards and 28 other unit and team awards.