Master Chief Petty Officer
Terence F. Vanderwerf
Command Master Chief (East)
U.S. Coast Guard Seventeenth District
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Rear Admiral Arthur E. Brooks selected Master Chief Petty Officer Terence (Terry)
F. Vanderwerf to assume the duties of Command Master Chief, Seventeenth
Coast Guard District (East) in May 2006.Master Chief Vanderwerf graduated in 1982, from Scappoose High School, located in Scappoose, Oregon. He enlisted in the Coast Guard on January 31, 1983. After recruit training, he was assigned to U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) Yocona, homeported in Astoria, Oregon. Upon graduation from Machinery Technician “A” School, he was assigned to CGC Whitebush, homeported in Astoria, Oregon. When the Whitebush was decommissioned in 1985, he transferred to CGC Glacier, homeported in Portland, Oregon. After making two trips to Antarctica, the Glacier was decommissioned. Vanderwerf's next assignment was CG Station Bodega Bay, California. There, he gained experience working with 44’ motor life boats (MLB), a skill that helped him at his next assignment in Ilwaco, Washington as a boat engineer at the National Motor Lifeboat School and as a member of the 47’ MLB Transition and Training Team. Master Chief Vanderwerf transferred to CGC Firebush, homeported in Kodiak, Alaska in 1994. During his time aboard the Firebush, he advanced to the rank of Chief Petty Officer and was later assigned to CGC Liberty, homeported in Auke Bay, Alaska. From there, he transferred to CGC Chippewa and a year later to CGC Obion both located in Owensboro, Kentucky. Vanderwerf's last afloat assignment was CGC Midgett, homeported in Seattle, Washington. There, he served as the engineering main propulsion chief, was Chief of the Boat and Command Master Chief.
Master Chief Vanderwerf is a graduate of Machinery Technician ‘A’ School, the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Academy, (Class 63), the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, (Class 101), and the National Defense University's Command Senior Enlisted Leadership Course. Vanderwerf holds a Department of Labor Journeyman’s License for Utilities Power Plant Operator.
Master Chief Vanderwerf’s personal awards include: the Meritorious Service Medal, the Coast Guard Commendation Medal, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal with three gold stars and “O” device, the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation with “O” device, the DOT Outstanding Unit Award, the Coast Guard Unit Commendation Award with gold star and “O” device, the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Award with gold star and “O” device, the Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation, the Coast Guard Good Conduct Award with one silver star and two bronze stars, and the Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon with four bronze stars.