Rear Admiral Douglas W Fredericks served as the Atlantic Senior Reserve Officer from 1982 thru 1986. At the time of his retirement he was the services senior reserve officer having over 33 years of service.
Rear Admiral Fredericks enlisted in the Coast Guard in June of 1955 and was assigned to the Officer Candidate School at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. Upon commissioning he was assigned to the CGC Rockaway from 1955 to 1958. Assignments during this period included CIC instructor for the Quartermaster-Signalman School (1960), Firefighting School (1961) and as an instructor for the Navigation Refresher Course (1962).
Inactive duty assignments included Executive Officer Reserve Unit Sandy Hook, Commanding Officer Reserve Unit Gloucester II, Group Commander Reserve Group Gloucester (Captain of the Port Philadelphia). These assignments were significant in that under then Captain Fredericks’ direction these reserve command were the first units to fully augment a major Captain of the Port. The augmentation procedures, organization manuals and call up guidelines serviced as models for other reserve commands during this period and were subsequently used in response to two maritime disasters: the explosion of the M/V ELIAS and the collision between the tankships CORIINTHOS and EDGAR M. QUEENY. Additional assignments as Captain were Reserve Inspector for Commander Third Coast Guard District, Commanding Officer Reserve Unit Third District di (1978-1980), Group Commander Reserve Group Captain of the Port New York (1980-1982).
Upon promotion to flag rank on July 1, 1982, he was assigned as Senior Reserve Officer Atlantic Area. His mobilization assignments were Commander, Third Coast Guard District and Commander, Sector Three of the Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic (COMARDEZSECTHREE) which included the Ports of Philadelphia, New York and New London.
During his military career he received the following awards: Legion of Merit Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon, and the Navy Expert Pistol Medal.
A native of New Jersey, Rear Admiral Fredericks holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Upsala College, a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Rutgers University and has done a year of post master’s work in educational administration at Kean College. Major Service Schools attended include: the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, the Army War College in Carlyle Barracks, Pennsylvania and the National Defense University in Pensacola, Florida.
Rear Admiral Fredericks in married to the former Patricia Lentz of Rutherford, New Jersey. They currently reside in Williamsburg, Virginia. They have two sons Douglas and Daniel, three daughters Patrice, Lizabeth and Heather Mary and six grandchildren.