Kenneth Armstrong

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Kenneth R. ("Ken") Armstrong (Born 25 April 1957 in Pasadena, California) was a United States Coast Guard lieutenant who spent most of his commissioned service in Joint Service assignments. He was the commander of the NATO base at Lampedusa Island, Italy, from 1988 to 1989. During his tour of command, the U.S. Navy shot down two Libyan fighters in the area, causing Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi to threaten Armstrong's life, and bringing a media spotlight on the NATO base.

Subsequently, in 1992, Armstrong commanded the humanitarian response detachment on the Island of Kauai following Hurricane Iniki. Armstrong received the Coast Guard Commendation Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal for the action.

In 1993, Armstrong was officer in charge of a NATO/U.N. ROE (Rules of Engagement) detachment aboard foreign naval vessels engaged in enforcing the blockade of Serbia and Montenegro in the Bosnian War. He received the NATO Medal for Yugoslavia and later, retroactively received the Armed Forces Service Medal.

Also in 1993, Armstrong led the U.S. Coast Guard's media response to the case of the Motor Vessel East Wood, a vessel adrift in the Pacific Ocean with more than 500 Chinese refugees aboard. The incident started just days after the Clinton administration took office, and gained significant international attention. Armstrong made daily reports to the White House Situation Room during the incident. Armstrong again received a Coast Guard Commendation Medal.