Unit Leadership | Sea Cadets

Commanding Officer

Lt. Steve Koopman

Lt. Koopman is a long time member of our unit. As a sea cadet he attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer within Worcester Division, and was a cadet for 9 years. He then went onto serve in the United States Navy, where he served as a Storekeeper on the U.S.S Jimmy Carter SSN 23 from Feb 2007 to Jan 2008. Steve Attained the rank/Rate of a Store Keeper 3rd class (Submarine Warfare) before his discharge and medical separation from the Navy. During that time, he made several under ways preparing for the "boats" first deployment in 2007.

Lt. Koopman's awards include from left to right: The Navy Unit Commendation, Battle "E", Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Ribbon, Rifle Sharpshooter Ribbon, and Pistol Sharpshooter Ribbon. Lt. Koopman has now been within the sea cadets as an adult volunteer for over 15 years, is the units commanding officer, and serves the community as a Police officer for the Town of Auburn.

Executive Officer

Inst. Chase Smith

Inst. Smith is the current unit Executive Officer who integrated with the Sea Cadets when his son was a cadet. Inst. Smith is a prior Naval Engineering Duty Officer who attained the Rank of LCDR (Engineering Duty Officer Warfare Device) within the United States Navy with overseas tours of duty to the Horn of Africa and Afghanistan. He was the commanding officer of one out of seventy-five SurgeMain units. Smith holds a PhD in organic chemistry from Florida State University and was an associate professor and later the Chair of the Pharmaceutical Sciences at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Ontop of his service to the nation and teaching higher education Smith has also served his community as a firefighter. he now serves as a Senior Application Scientist at Optibrium Ltd. out of Boston. Smith has been serving the Naval Sea Cadet Corps for 9 years, and is dedicated to the overall mission of the Sea Cadet Corps

Smith's Awards Include from Left to Right
Joint Service Commendation Medal w/ C-Device (w/ Star for second award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (w/ Star for second award), Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ M Device and Bronze Hourglass, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (w/ Star for second award), NATO Non-Article 5 Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Service Medal, National Defense Ribbon, Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with Sharpshooter Device, Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with Sharpshooter Device and also the U.S. Army Bronze de Fleury Medal for Engineering (not shown).

Operations Officer

Ens. Michael DeFazio

Inst. DeFazio has been with the Worcester CL-144 Division since he was a cadet. He graduated the program as a 2nd Class Petty Officer, where he then Joined the United States Navy. DeFazio served as an Information Systems Technician from 2016 until he was Medically Retired from the Navy in February of 2023 as an Information Systems Technician (Information Warfare) 2nd class. DeFazio has served tours of duty overseas to include within the Middle East, and throughout much of Africa. DeFazio has also been to many countries within the service to include Cuba, Ireland, England, Germany, Kuwait, Dubai, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and many other countries within Africa. DeFazio has many awards and Accomplishments whether within the Navy Sea Cadet Corps, The Navy, and also within Civilian Life. He currently works full time as the Executive Director of a nonprofit serving Veterans and First Responders.

DeFazio's Awards include from Left to right