Coast Guard Auxiliary District Commodores are elected to a two-year term by the members of a District Board comprising the Director of Auxiliary, the immediate past District Commodore (IPDCO), the District Chief of Staff (DCOS), District Captains, and all the Division Commanders of that district. The District Commodore, or DCO, is the link between the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary at the District level, coordinating with the USCG District Commander through the Director of Auxiliary, who provides administrative oversight and resources to support Auxiliary programs.
Though not a military rank, a District Commodore in the Coast Guard Auxiliary has an insignia that is based upon that of a flag officer in the Navy or Coast Guard, in this case a single star with a blue “A” reflecting the DCO’s elected status. As a coat device, it's positioned so that its bottom is 3/4-inch from the shoulder seam and oriented so the “A” is facing outboard. Authorized coats include the Windbreaker, Raincoat, and the Trench Coat.