The 2025 Windjammer Days will shine a spotlight on the dedicated individuals who have served, are serving, or are preparing to serve in one of the most respected branches of the U.S. military: the Coast Guard. From active-duty members and retired veterans to the bright future leaders currently enrolled at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, we’ll explore their personal stories, their contributions to the community, and the impact they've made on the nation's maritime security. The 63rd annual Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Days will take place on Sunday, June 22 through Saturday, June 28. Please visit boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org for the full schedule of events.

Chief Douglas Snyder was inspired to join the U.S. Coast Guard by his father who was also a member of the Coast Guard. As he moved throughout his childhood with new assignments for his dad, he met numerous “Coasties” who told adventurous stories of their travels and responsibilities. He particularly remembers a pivotal incident in Maryland in 1993. At that time, he was home with his father who was the officer in charge at Coast Guard Station St. Ingos. His father received a call about a sinking fishing boat called the El Toro II and took young Doug along with him to investigate. First they went to the station, where Doug quietly sat in the corner and listened to the chaos on the radio. Afterward he accompanied his father to the site where all the ambulances were staged and he watched his father provide medical attention to those in need. Snyder recalls this as an amazing experience to see how the Coast Guard operated in such tragic circumstances.

After joining the Coast Guard following high school and completing boot camp, Snyder’s primary goal was to to get on a ship and travel. His first assignment was on a 270-foot Cutter, Escanba, which was based out of Boston. The ship would go on patrols for a month or two and then return to home port. There he worked in the deck department and became a Boatswain Mate, following in his father’s footsteps. As a Boatswain Mate he served as a boat driver, boarding officer, and Officer of the Day, among many other additional duties. After about two years on the boat, Snyder realized that this lifestyle wasn’t for him and requested a transfer to a small boat station. He received orders to go to Boothbay Harbor and while there he became a Coxswain and a Law Enforcement officer. Also around this time the Coast Guard was starting its Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT). Wanting to shift his focus from search and rescue to law enforcement duties, he left Boothbay Harbor and went to Chesapeake, Virginia to serve as a Canine Handler for the MSRT. Snyder found being a canine handler to be incredibly fulfilling. Working with dogs taught him far more than he ever anticipated. Just the thought of watching a dog locate a bomb or track a person still gives him goosebumps!

One of Snyder’s most memorable experiences was meeting President George H.W. Bush. While he was stationed in Boothbay Harbor he remembers the Chief calling him into his office to inform him that President Bush was going to Friendship Harbor that weekend and needed an escort. It was also the same weekend as the Friendship Lobster Boat Races, so the races were paused to escort President Bush to the dock. President Bush graciously agreed to photos and gave the Coast Guard a tour of his boat. The President also posed for pictures with individuals and the whole crew. Before President Bush left, Snyder asked if he would like to give the crowd a show by racing the Coast Guard ship against President Bush’s boat. The President agreed and they paused the Lobster Boat races one more time for their match. President Bush’s boat easily outran the Coast Guard boat and put on a fantastic display for the crowd.

Another memorable experience was President Obama’s first inauguration where a week prior to the inauguration the Coast Guard had the responsibility to search for bombs along the river and other assigned places. He was assisted by his Dutch Shepard, K9 Cuba. The day of the inauguration, they were tasked with crossing the river to search for a suspicious person at a marina. They relied on their GPS for directions, but due to many road closures, the GPS led them down a route filled with vendors, tents and pedestrians which turned out to be the parade route. They were just five minutes ahead of the President’s arrival and could see the Marine Corps band playing in the rearview mirror.

Other exciting times included being deployed to Jamestown, Virginia when the Queen of England was visiting and the prospect of going to Boston for the World Series, the latter of which unfortunately resulted in searching the airport rather than Fenway Park.

Snyder credits the Coast Guard in giving him a huge amount of responsibility at a young age. Before he could legally have an alcoholic beverage, he was in charge of many significant operations, such as refueling at sea. This maneuver involved bringing two large ships close enough to transfer fuel and goods between them. He learned essential lessons about leadership and ownership that stay with him until this day and he also learned to take ownership for his mistakes. He believes that the Coast Guard’s culture is unique, being one of the smaller branches of the military, but also having a broad range of jobs. He hopes that his legacy in Coast Guard will be that he left everything better than he found it. As to those considering a career in the Coast Guard, Snyder says it was an honor to serve and that joining the military can be one of the most fulfilling jobs that you will ever have with the benefits of serving your country lasting a lifetime.