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.

Born and raised in Acton, Maine, Smith decided to join the Coast Guard after spending his time skiing and then losing his job. He was originally planning to join the Marines, but his friend told him about the Coast Guard. At that time he didn’t know the Coast Guard existed and his friend told him that all he would be doing was driving boats. Since he grew up on a lake, he thought that was a good fit. Ryan found out that simple description was “a little wrong.” After enlisting in 2005, Smith’s first assignment was aboard the 210-foot offshore patrol boat, the CGC Vigilance, where he quickly learned that the job was far more challenging than he anticipated. He learned to navigate by the stars, plot his position using radar and land objects and become a Pursuit Coxswain. It was a huge challenge for him, especially being away from home for the first time, but the leadership and guidance he received gave him motivation and helped him to adjust.

Smith’s commitment and leadership abilities didn’t go unnoticed. Over the years, he continued to grow in his role and took on more responsibilities. Initially planning to serve just four years before pursuing college, Smith found himself extending his service after realizing the Coast Guard had become his true calling. Now, over 18 years later, he is the Officer in Charge at Coast Guard Station Boothbay Harbor, overseeing a crew of 23 active-duty members. As the leader of his station, Smith’s main focus is on search and rescue operations, recreational boating safety, and the protection of marine resources along the coast of Maine, from Cape Small to Port Clyde.
Despite the tough conditions that come with these responsibilities, Smith says the most rewarding part of his job is seeing junior members grow and succeed.

While Smith’s professional journey has been rewarding, one of his most memorable moments came during a routine mission in Portsmouth Harbor, when his quick thinking and the teamwork of his crew saved a life. He was the Officer of the Day, and he got a call from a fisherman who said he saw a man in a small dory who was out in 8-foot seas with one oar half a mile off Perkins Cove in Ogunquit. The fisherman said that he couldn’t understand anything the man was saying and believed him to be drunk. Smith wasn’t convinced, but they decided to launch the boat. They found the man about two miles out to sea in 8-to-10-foot seas and 25 knots of wind. One of the crew members was perceptive and tried communicating with American Sign Language. It turned out that the man was deaf and had a suicide note. He’d stolen a car, gotten into a chase, and then stolen the dory with no intention of surviving. They were able to get him on the Coast Guard boat and bring him to York Harbor where EMS was waiting. Smith asserts if they hadn’t gone
out, there’s no telling what would have happened. He says it felt like so many factors came together for a reason.

Looking ahead, Smith plans to continue leading his team and making a difference in the community, while also focusing on completing his education. He is currently three classes away from getting his degree at Southern New Hampshire University. He says that the Coast Guard’s close knit culture is unique due to its tight knit community that is always looking out for one another.