Takes Command

First Woman in Command of U.S. Military Academy

A woman took command of a U.S. military service academy for the first time in history when Rear Adm. Sandra Stosz took over as the superintendant of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., Friday, June 3. “We are extremely proud to be the first service with a woman at the helm of our academy,” said U.S. Coast Guard commandant, Adm. Robert J. Papp. “The Coast Guard has always led by allowing women equal access to all our jobs and assignments.”   Stosz takes over as the school continues to see an increase in minority admissions, growing from 12 percent in 2008 to 24 percent in 2010.   “While historically important, this assignment is really just part of a natural progression in an ongoing process of creating a service environment where our entire workforce can contribute their best and feel they have equal opportunity to do so,” said Stosz. “We'll know the nation has succeeded in its efforts when there are no more firsts like this one and I am remembered as the 40th superintendent of the Coast Guard Academy, not the first female superintendent.”   Under the command of the previous superintendent, Rear Adm. J. Scott Burhoe, the school was ranked as a top college by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and listed as the number one college in the northeast by U.S. News and World Report. The school had five Fulbright and three Truman scholars during his tenure.  

Capt. Cheever Assumes Command of USCG Yard

Captain William S. Cheever recently assumed command of the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Md. He becomes the 36th Commanding Officer in the 102-year history of the Yard, the only shipbuilding and ship repair facility of the U.S. Coast Guard. Captain Cheever took command of the Yard from Captain Alan S. Gracewski who had served as the shipyard's Commanding Officer since June, 1998. Captain Gracewki retired from the Coast Guard with 30 years service.

Cutter to Receive New Commanding

OfficerCoast Guard Cutter Cypress is scheduled to host a change-of-command ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday at Coast Guard Base Mobile. Lt. Cmdr. Samuel R. Jordan will relieve Cmdr. Samuel "Duke" Walker, who took command of the Cypress in June 2002. Jordan reports to Cypress after serving at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C., in the Resource Directorate, as the cost management section chief. His most recent shipboard assignment was as the executive officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter

Adm. Hull to Retire

A change of command and retirement ceremony is scheduled for the Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander Friday at 10 a.m. at Nauticus, the National Maritime Center, in Norfolk, Va. Coast Guard Commandant Thomas H. Collins will preside over the ceremony where Vice Adm. Vivien S. Crea, will assume responsibilities from Vice Adm. James D. Hull as the Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander. Hull, the Atlantic Area commander for the past two years

New Aegis Destroyer Christened

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour cheers as ship sponsors Heidi Cooke Halsey, Alice Spruance Talbot and Anne Halsey-Smith simultaneously smash ceremonial bottles of champagne across the bow of the Aegis guided missile destroyer DDG 97, officially christening the ship "Halsey." Halsey honors the sponsors' grandfather, Fleet Adm. William Frederick "Bull" Halsey Jr., a World War I and World War II Naval hero. More than 1,000 guests attended the Saturday, January 17

Aegis Destroyer Halsey Commissioned

In front of more than 5,000 guests, U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) hailed Northrop Grumman Corporation and its Gulf Coast shipbuilders who built USS Halsey (DDG 97) saying, "you should take great pride in your contribution to our Navy and to our nation." McCain delivered the principal address at the commissioning of the U.S. Navy's newest Aegis guided missile destroyer at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, Calif. The ship is the Navy's 47th

FILM EVENT: America’s Women Seafarers Tell Their Stories

Wednesday, March 30 at 6.p.m., Community Church of New York, 40 East 35th Street,Manhattan Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www. workingharbor.org. This special Women at Sea program features a screening of the documentary “Shipping Out – The Story of America’s Seafaring Women” followed by a conversation with seven women mariners who work as mates aboard cargo ships, tug captains, marine engineers, pilots, port officials and more.

ANT Jacksonville Change of Command

Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Jacksonville Officer in Charge Senior Chief Petty Officer Andrew M. Engle will pass command to Chief Petty Officer Timothy R. Tully, Thursday at 10 a.m. during a ceremony held at the Aids to Navigation Team Jacksonville, Fla. Engle took on the responsibilities as the Officer in Charge of the ANT in 1999. He will go on to take the duties as the executive petty officer on board the Coast Guard Cutter Maria Bray homeported in Mayport, Fla.

USFF Relieves USS Enterprise Commanding Officer

Adm. John C. Harvey Jr., Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command (USFFC), has permanently relieved Capt. Owen Honors of his duties as commanding officer of USS Enterprise (CVN 65) for demonstrating poor judgment while serving as executive officer of that ship. "The responsibility of the commanding officer for his or her command is absolute. While Capt. Honors' performance as commanding officer of USS Enterprise has been without incident

Coast Guard Yard Under New Command

Captain John Kaplan recently assumed command of the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in .  He is the 39th Commanding Officer in the 109-year history of the Yard, the only shipbuilding and ship repair facility of the United States Coast Guard. Captain Kaplan took charge of the Coast Guard Yard from Captain Stephen Duca who had served as the shipyard’s Commanding Officer, May 2005 - May 2008.  Captain Duca retired from the U.S. Coast Guard with 27 years active duty service