U. S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit logo is depicted with a front view of a helicopter on a light blue shield, with a yellow ribbon below inscribed with the words “Motor City Search-Rescue”.

Commanding Officer

Photo of Commander Michael E. Platt, U.S. Coast Guard, Commanding Officer U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit

Commander Michael E. Platt,
United States Coast Guard

Commander Platt was born at Clark AFB, Philippines and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended Hampton University in Virginia, entered the Minority Officer Recruiting Effort (MORE) program – now called CSPI - in June of 1990 and received a bachelor degree in Airway Science in 1991.

In July of 1992, after completion of Coast Guard Officer Candidate School in Yorktown, VA, he was assigned to the Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) in San Juan, PR. As a qualified Boarding Officer, he deployed on several naval vessels including a two-month deployment in the North Red Sea in 1993. He was then offered the opportunity to work as a Command Center Controller at Greater Antilles Section in San Juan, PR. In the summer of 1995 he departed Puerto Rico and attended Naval Flight School, Pensacola, FL, where he earned his Naval Aviator Wings in January 1997.

He was then assigned to Air Station Los Angeles where he was instrumental in the Coast Guard’s portrayal in “Baywatch”, “Lethal Weapon 4”, “The Perfect Storm” and many TV specials. Assigned to the Polar Operations Division (POPDIV), ATC Mobile, AL in 2001, he completed two back-to-back 6-month deployments on icebreaker CGC HEALY including her inaugural science mission. During his stint in POPDIV, Commander Platt flew an HH65A over the North Pole. Commander Platt was assigned to Air Station San Francisco in the summer of 2003 where he served as the Public Works Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, Administration Officer and instructor pilot in the HH65B and HH65C helicopters. In June of 2006 Commander Platt was assigned to the First District Incident Management Branch staff where he was responsible for Search and Rescue policy and small boat management. Selected for promotion in 2007, Commander Platt departed the First District in 2008 to assume duties as the Executive Officer at Air Station Los Angeles. In 2010, Commander Platt assumed command of Air Station Detroit.

Commander Platt’s personal awards include three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, four Coast Guard Achievement Medals, the Commandant Letter of Commendation Ribbon and two Arctic Service Medals. Commander Platt is married to the former Christal Lynn Jurden of Campbell, CA. They have two daughters Amelia and Serena.

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Last Modified 1/26/2012