LCDR Will D. Spoon

Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Will D. Spoon enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in February 2003 from Raleigh, NC. After completing basic training in Cape May, NJ, his initial assignment was a Seaman at Station Destin, Destin, FL from April 2003 to September 2004. Within six months he was a certified Boarding Team Member, watch stander and also assisted in multiple community outreach events. 

In November 2004, he reported to Training Center Yorktown, Yorktown, VA to attend Marine Science Technician (MST) A School. From 2004 to 2007, Spoon was assigned to Sector Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, where he worked in Waterways Management and Inspections Divisions as well as deploying for several months in support of Hurricane Katrina efforts. Before leaving active duty in 2007, he attained Container Inspector, Facilities Inspector and Pollution Investigator qualifications. 

In October 2007, he was hired as a Special Agent/Senior Industrial Security Specialist at the Defense Security Service in Alexandria, VA. Special Agent Spoon visited Department of Defense (DOD) contractor facilities to conduct security surveys, which included evaluation of organizational structures, physical safeguards and ability to safeguard classified information in the event of disaster or attack. He provided assistance to contractors in establishing security programs at newly cleared facilities to adequately safeguard U.S., NATO and foreign government classified information. While working at the DOD, he continued to maintain good standing as a Reservist, becoming a Petty Officer First Class. 

After completing five years as an enlisted member, he received his commission as an Ensign through the CGR Reserve Officer Candidate Indoctrination Program in 2008. From 2008-2010 he was a drilling Reservist in Inspections and Enforcement Divisions assigned to Sector Seattle, Seattle, WA and Sector Delaware Bay, Philadelphia, PA. From 2010-2014, LCDR Spoon deployed to Deepwater Horizon as an Environmental Unit Leader and Public Affairs Officer where he led inter­agency teams through the development of complex plans which facilitated response activities across a five-state area. 

Upon leaving active duty in 2014 he took a civilian job in New Orleans, LA as the first General Service employee hired to help stand up a new Federal micro-agency called the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (GCERC). He coordinated and facilitated the interaction of 11 Federal and State Council Members, State and agency liaisons, Tribal representatives, executive staff, working groups, and other parties to execute the new agency’s restoration missions.

In 2008 he completed a Master of Science in Quality Systems Management through the National Graduate School in Baltimore, MD. This was a project management MS that utilized the Lean and Six Sigma approaches to improve productivity and reduce waste in administrative and operational processes. He also has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina                                                                           

His personal decorations include the Marine Safety Insignia, Coast Guard Commendation Medal (2 awards); Coast Guard Achievement Medal (3 awards) and numerous other team and unit service awards.

LCDR Spoon is now a team member on the Climate and Artic Security project for the Allies and Partners Force Development Division. In his civilian career, he consults with freshwater focused nonprofits to coordinate water quality efforts through partnerships with Federal, State, local governments, and other partners. He continues to voluntarily activate each year, including six months on 2017 hurricane responses and three months on COVID support in 2020.