Biography of
Commodore
Fred Gates
National Directorate Commodore for
Member Services
Commodore Fred Gates, National Directorate Commodore for
Member Services, joined the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in 1999 and
has served on the National Staff since 2000 as a Branch Chief, Assistant
Editor of Navigator; Division Chief, Media Division; and was
appointed Deputy Department Chief, Marketing and Public Affairs in 2001.
Appointed Department Chief, Public Affairs in 2001, he has held this
position until his appointment as NADCO-MS in November 2004.
Commodore Gates created the Auxiliary’s on line e-magazine SITREP,
redesigned and edited the Auxiliary magazine Navigator and created
the Aux eNews, an Auxiliary newsletter sent to all Auxiliarist with
email, and is qualified as a Communications Specialist. The
Commodore also served on the Auxiliary Strategic Marketing Committee and was
Flotilla Publications and Public Affairs Officer in 1999 when his flotilla
publication was awarded Best Flotilla National Publication Award. He has
served as the Auxiliary representative to Recruit Command on the committee
which developed the “Shield of Freedom” branding campaign.
Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, his parents moved to San Diego, California
in the late 1940s. As a resident of the San Diego area, Gates attended
Grossmont College majoring in political science and with a minor in
philosophy. He served in student government and edited the student
newspaper. Commodore Gates holds a State of California college teaching
credential in art, design and photography and a special credential in adult
education as well as a credential in Military Science and Tactics. He served
in the United States Army in 1963-64. Gates has held positions at newspapers
including reporter, photographer, columnist, photo editor, graphic artist
and graphics editor. He retired in 2004 after 25 years with the San Diego
Union Tribune, a 350,000 circulation daily newspaper. The Commodore has
volunteered as a board member of the San Diego/Imperial Chapter of the Girl
Scouts of America and was a board member, vice president and president of
the San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma
Delta Chi, an international journalist’s association.
Commodore Gates’ wife, Jo Ann, is a retired elementary school teacher.
When not involved in Auxiliary activities, the Gates enjoy traveling
throughout the Pacific Northwest.
