Born in Essex, Connecticut, Satterlee was appointed a cadet in the Revenue Cutter Service on 19 November 1895 and graduated in 1898 with a commission.

In 1909, he was ordered to the USRC Tahoma, then fitting out at Baltimore, Maryland, for a cruise to the Pacific.

From 1910 to 1913, he was assistant inspector of lifesaving stations; and, on 1 September 1915, he was promoted to Captain in the Coast Guard.

Captain Satterlee was in command of USCGC Tampa, when that vessel was torpedoed and sunk with all hands on 26 September 1918 in the Bristol Channel while escorting a convoy.

This biographical article related to the United States Coast Guard is a stub.