David Rockwell, Auxiliary Sector Coordinator - Sector St. Petersburg

David Rockwell
Auxiliary Sector Coordinator - Sector St. Petersbuurg

Sector St. Petersburg encompasses West Central Florida from Apalachicola to Everglades City. The area includes 500 miles of coastline with year round commercial and recreational boating and a large port complex in the Tampa Bay area. These activities require continuous Coast Guard vigilance, capability and response for Search and Rescue, Marine Safety, Law Enforcement, Aids To Navigation and associated mission areas. Within this area are five Stations and five Auxiliary Divisions which have similar areas of responsibility (AOR). The associations are as follows: Station Yankeetown - Division 15, Station Sand Key - Division 11, Station St. Petersburg - Division 7, Station Cortez - Division 8, and Station Fort Myers Beach - Division 9. Additionally, there are 10 Coast Guard Cutters homeported in the area and a Coast Guard Air Station located in Clearwater. Approximately 1100 active duty Coast Guard members man the various cutters, stations, and Sector staff.

Most of the activities of the 1900 Auxiliarists in the area are in support of Recreational Boating Safety and direct support of the stations with air and surface patrols, watch standing, and regatta patrols for major marine events. Support for specific CG units will expand with more individual augments as additional members achieve Marine Safety, CG watchstander, and Operational Excellence qualifications.