Command master chief resigns from Coast Guard Academy

Brett VerHulst being reassigned to R&D Center in New London

New London — Command Master Chief Brett VerHulst has resigned his duties at the Coast Guard Academy, effective immediately, Superintendent Rear Adm. Bill Kelly announced in an email to staff Tuesday afternoon.

Academy spokesperson Cmdr. David Milne said VerHulst didn’t give a reason for his resignation, and that the Coast Guard Academy typically doesn’t comment on personnel issues or investigations.

“The incident is under investigation, so we’re looking at everything in a whole perspective, and looking at all the things that have come to light, and we’ll wait and see what the investigation turns out,” Milne said. He declined to comment on what he meant by “the incident” or what has come to light.

The Day has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the academy seeking more information on VerHulst’s resignation and the investigation.

Milne said VerHulst resigned his

duties but not his rank as master chief; he is still in the Coast Guard and still a master chief.

VerHulst is being reassigned to the Coast Guard Research and Development Center in New London. Milne said he wasn’t sure of VerHulst’s report date or his duties there, and he doesn’t know yet if VerHulst will be working with cadets but doubts it.

Kelly’s email said Master Chief Anthony Schell will be the interim command master chief until the arrival of Master Chief Maria D’Angelo this summer.

According to VerHulst’s biography on the U.S. Coast Guard website, he assumed the duties of command master chief in August 2017, with the primary responsibility of advising Kelly “on issues and initiatives pertaining to the entire Coast Guard Academy workforce.”

Before that, he served as command master chief of the 17th Coast Guard District in Alaska.