USCG Cutter Waesche Has New Commanding Officer

USCG Cutter Waesche Has New Commanding Officer

Capt. Robert S. Mohr is the new commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Waesche, taking over for Capt. Jason H. Ryan, who is expected to serve as chief of operations for the Coast Guard’s Pacific Area Command in Alameda. Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, Coast Guard Pacific Area commander, presided over the change-of-command ceremony, which was held July 15 at Base Alameda in California. “The Waesche crew truly embodies their official motto of strength, endurance and service,” Tiongson said. “I am proud of this crew, led by Capt. Ryan, for their continuous pursuit of operational proficiency, consummate teamwork, and…
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USCG 17th District, Sector Anchorage Host Policymakers in Alaska

USCG 17th District, Sector Anchorage Host Policymakers in Alaska

To strengthen efforts in the Alaskan region, members of U.S. Coast Guard 17th District and Sector Anchorage received Washington D.C.-based lawmakers and mission officials in Anchorage earlier this month. For two days, visitors viewed presentations by officials from the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, Arctic Domain Awareness Center, U.S. Northern Command and Alaskan Command at Sector Anchorage on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and toured Nome and Kotzebue and met with representatives from the Port of Nome, NANA Regional Corp., Native Village of Kotzebue and the Maniilaq Association, according to the Coast Guard. “With growing activity and increased responsibility for…
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USCG Cutter Polar Star Gets New Commanding Officer

USCG Cutter Polar Star Gets New Commanding Officer

Capt. Keith Ropella is the new commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star, succeeding Capt. William Woityra, who has been assigned to the Oceania Policy Division chief at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Honolulu. Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, Coast Guard Pacific Area commander, presided over the command change July 11 at the Maritime Museum in Vallejo, California. Ropella, who previously worked at the Office of Navigation Systems at Coast Guard Headquarters, takes charge of a soon-to-be upgraded Polar Star. The country’s sole heavy icebreaker is being outfitted with newer “machinery monitoring and controlling and propulsion power systems during…
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New Commander for Coast Guard Sector San Diego

New Commander for Coast Guard Sector San Diego

Capt. James Spitler is the new commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego, taking over for Capt. Timothy Barelli, who has retired after 26 years of service. The change of command was made official Thursday, July 14 in a ceremony in San Diego with Rear Adm. Andrew M. Sugimoto, commander of 11th Coast Guard District, presiding. Spitler previously served as chief of the domestic operations division, directorate of operations of the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado. “Since 1934, the Coast Guard has selflessly served the city of San Diego,'' Spitler said. “We are a part of this legacy and…
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USCG Pacific Area Command Gets New Commander

USCG Pacific Area Command Gets New Commander

Vice Adm. Andrew J. Tiongson is the new commander of U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Command, taking over for Vice Adm. Michael F. McAllister in leading the 13,000 members of Coast Guard Pacific Area through various missions and activities in the Arctic, the Antarctic, the Eastern and Western Pacific and Oceania. The change of command ceremony was held July 8 on Coast Guard Base Alameda in Northern California. During the previous two years, Tiongson was the U.S. Southern Command director of operations overseeing planning and execution of activities related to the command’s area of responsibility, which included 27 democratic nations…
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USCG Teams Deploy to Alaska

USCG Teams Deploy to Alaska

Members of the U.S. Guard recently headed to Kotzebue, Alaska, to support various operations this summer. Sector Anchorage’s Marine Safety Task Force is expected to be in the area through July 16 for a multi-mission deployment mainly centered around facility inspections. “Facility inspections help mitigate the potential for oil pollution in the region,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Houvener, a marine science technician and team lead. “These facilities are crucial for providing oil to warm homes during winter months. Alaska experiences harsh environmental conditions, so it’s important to inspect the safety and integrity of such waterside facilities to decrease…
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LA/Long Beach Coast Guard Sector Gets New Commander

LA/Long Beach Coast Guard Sector Gets New Commander

Capt. Ryan Manning is the new commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach sector, succeeding Capt. Rebecca Ore, who will head to Coast Guard Headquarters as the assistant commandant for intelligence. The command change was made official at a June 21 ceremony at Coast Guard Base Los Angeles/Long Beach with Rear Adm. Brian Penoyer, the Eleventh Coast Guard District commander, presiding. Manning, who previously served as commanding officer at Coast Guard Activities Europe, will oversee more than 550 active duty, reserve and civilian personnel and 1,200 all-volunteer Coast Guard Auxiliary members, as well as 14 field command and…
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USCG Launches Pacific Northwest Whale Awareness Program

USCG Launches Pacific Northwest Whale Awareness Program

U.S. Coast Guard officials in the Pacific Northwest are asking boaters to be mindful of sharing local waters with whales this summer. As part of its “Operation Be Whale Wise” launch July 1, the USCG is partnering with other agencies on the effort to make the public, including boaters, more aware of the orcas in the Puget Sound. That includes the enforcement of buffer zones and other vessel rules. Under federal rules, vessels are not allowed to approach killer whales within 200 yards or park in the path of killer whales. In 2019, the State of Washington required vessels to…
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USCG Warns of Illegal Vessel Operators in Alaska

USCG Warns of Illegal Vessel Operators in Alaska

Passengers should be mindful of vessels that could be operating illegally in Alaska this season, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Sunday, June 26. Some boat operators may not have had a proper USCG inspection, training, credentials and/or enrolled in a mandated drug testing program, according to the USCG. “It is important for the safety of all involved that you do your homework before selecting a charter company,” Cmdr. Jason Boyer, Chief of Prevention, 17th Coast Guard District, said. “Your diligence will help ensure the company meets regulations for required safety equipment and Coast Guard credentials. Don’t place your friends or…
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New Members Sought for National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

New Members Sought for National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

This week, the Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing announced two vacancies on the National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee. The committee, according to Mayte Medina, chief of the Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing, offers guidance to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security through the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard on issues related to U.S. Merchant Marine personnel such as “training, qualifications, certification, documentation and fitness of mariners.” The advisory committee needs one member to represent the public and another member who is a deck officer that has a Merchant Mariner Credential with an endorsement as Master of…
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