Chief Petty Officer Boatswain’s Mate (BMC) David Michael Ramsey is a highly decorated, retired 20-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard. He is officially recognized as the 374th Coast Guard Surfman, a designation reserved for masters of heavy weather boat operations. [1, 2]

Operational Qualifications & Roles

• Rating & Rank: Chief Boatswain’s Mate (BMC / E-7). [1]
• Special Designation: Certified Coast Guard Surfman (No. 374), designated on March 10, 2006, at Station Cape Disappointment. [1]
• Command & Leadership: Served as Chief of Operations at Coast Guard Station Sabine Pass (Texas) from 2017 to 2018, overseeing vessel operations, crew readiness, scheduling, and training. [1]
• Specialized Tactical Skills: Qualified in Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS), Port Security, tactical operations, water pursuit, Close Quarters Combat (CQC), beach/surf rescue, and cliff extraction. [1]
• Instruction & Inspection: Certified Small Arms Instructor (SAI), Ready for Operations (RFO) Inspector, and Readiness Command Force Manager.

Major Career Achievements

• Valor in Lifesaving: Awarded prestigious honors from the Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) for his actions on January 15, 2006. As a Boatswain’s Mate First Class (BM1) commanding Motor Lifeboat 47248, he navigated 25-to-35-foot seas and 25-foot breaking surf on the Columbia River Bar (Peacock Spit) to save three people aboard the disabled fishing vessel Cathrine M. [1, 2]
• Interagency Enforcement: Served as a federal law enforcement officer coordinating anti-trafficking and security patrols with local sheriffs, police, game wardens, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. [1, 2, 3]

Chief Petty Officer (BMC) David Michael Ramsey is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Surfman (Surfman #374)who spent 20 years conducting high-stakes maritime search and rescue operations. His military career was marked by numerous deployments in the face of severe natural disasters, major industrial accidents, and national emergencies. [1]

Hurricane and Storm Operations

Over his two decades of service, Ramsey operated extensively in harsh surf conditions and major weather events.

• Hurricane Harvey (2017): Ramsey was deployed to the Gulf Coast during this historic storm, executing active surf rescues and emergency responses in Texas as the catastrophic storm dropped feet of rain across the region. [1]
• Hurricane Katrina (2005): He served as part of the massive Coast Guard response framework that rescued and evacuated tens of thousands of stranded individuals in the Gulf of Mexico region. [1]
• Station Sabine Pass (2017–2018): Following major storm cycles, he served as the Chief of Operations at Coast Guard Station Sabine Pass on the Texas-Louisiana border. In this role, he coordinated small-arms training, vessel operations, and multi-agency river patrols alongside local sheriffs and game wardens to secure critical energy and shipping waterways. [1]

Major Career Recognitions

Beyond hurricane responses, Ramsey was recognized nationally for extreme maritime rescues:

• AFRAS Award Winner: As a Boatswain’s Mate First Class (BM1), Ramsey received a prestigious award from the Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS). [1]
• The “Graveyard of the Pacific” Rescue (2006): Operating out of Station Cape Disappointment, Ramsey commanded the Coast Guard motor lifeboat MLB 47248. He successfully navigated 25-to-35-foot seas and a 25-foot breaking surf to rescue the disabled 50-foot fishing vessel Cathrine M on the treacherous Columbia River Bar. [1]

Service Legacy and Post-Military Life

Ramsey retired as a 100% disabled veteran due to the extreme physical toll of his service, which required multiple surgeries including 3 lumbar and cervical spinal fusions, knee surgery, and bilateral shoulder and wrist reconstructions. He has openly shared his ongoing personal battles and how to survive them how to overcome severe PTSD, anxiety, insomnia and depression resulting from the traumas of active-duty rescue operations. Medical assistance, meditation, prayer, acupuncture, therapy group and personal taking an active role in learning about PTSD Traumatic Brain Injury learning proper coping skills healthy diet physical activity finding happiness staying away from negative unsupportive people

BMC David Michael Ramsey is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Chief Boatswain’s Mate (BMC), recognized as the 374th certified Surfman. Over a 20-year military career, Chief Ramsey served in diverse operations spanning small arms instruction, maritime security, and heavy-weather rescue operations. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Key Service Background

• Rate and Rank: Chief Boatswain’s Mate (BMC / E-7).
• Surfman Qualification: Earned the rare and highly demanding Surfman designation (No. 374), qualifying him to operate rescue boats in the most extreme, hazardous breaking surf conditions. [1]
• Agency Scope: Served 20 years under the U.S. Coast Guard and is a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security following its establishment. [1]
• Decorations: Recipient of the prestigious AFRAS Gold Medal (Association for Rescue at Sea) for extreme bravery during a life-saving maritime rescue. [1]

Weapons and Tactics Instruction

As a senior Chief Operations officer, BMC Ramsey directed and managed multi-faceted defense training programs, including: [1]

• Small Arms Marksmanship Instructor (SAMI): Qualified personnel in federal law enforcement and military small arms standards, managing tactical range safety and weapon employment. [1, 2]
• Crew-Served & Automatic Weapons: Instructed personnel on heavier weapon systems utilized for port security, vessel defense, and counter-trafficking operations, specifically medium machine guns such as the M240 Bravo. [1]
• Operational Leadership: Commanded tactical vessel operations, regional scheduling, and crew readiness protocols across multiple regions including the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and the Gulf Coast.[1]

Post-Military & Community Impact

Following his retirement in 2018 as a 100% disabled combat veteran, Ramsey has spoken transparently about his physical recovery from multiple complex spinal and orthopedic surgeries, as well as managing severe combat-related PTSD. He went on to found the Rigs & Reef Classic, a charity spearfishing tournament created to raise funds and support fellowship for disabled veterans and their families.

DavidMRamsey

1-503-298-0592

blacknbluepb@yahoo.com