New Captain for USCG Air Station Cape Cod

 

Capt. Timothy Tobiasz assumed the duties and responsibilities as commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts, from Capt. Stephen H. Torpey during a change of command ceremony at the air station in Bourne, Massachusetts, Saturday.

Rear Adm. Linda L. Fagan, commander of the 1st Coast Guard District, presided over the ceremony. The change-of-command ceremony is a time-honored tradition which formally restates the continuity of authority vested in the commanding officer to the officers and crew in attendance. This unique military ritual represents a total transfer of responsibility, authority, and accountability from one leader to the next.

Tobiasz reports to Air Station Cape Cod after serving as the senior U.S. Coast Guard advisor to the combatant commander of U.S. Northern Command. His prior operational assignments include commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, Georgia, and flying assignments at Coast Guard Air Stations Clearwater, Florida, San Diego, California, Kodiak, Alaska, New Orleans, Louisiana, to include plank owner for the Commandant’s HITRON-10 Proof of Concept. Staff assignments include Military Liaison to the U.S. Senate, U.S. Coast Guard Congressional Affairs, and CG-821 Directorate for Resources, Coast Guard Headquarters where he was responsible for drafting, reviewing, and defending the Coast Guard budget before Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Torpey, a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, has completed three tours on Cape Cod with previous assignments as both the executive officer and operations officer at the air station. He previously served as the chief of response for the 9th Coast Guard District in Cleveland, Ohio, aviation program manager at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and an MH-60 duty standing pilot/instructor at Air Station Clearwater, Florida, Aviation Training Center Mobile, Alabama, Air Station Sitka, Alaska, and Air Station San Francisco, California.

Following the change of command ceremony, Torpey was recognized for 26 years of service in the Coast Guard during a formal celebration of his retirement. Rear Adm. Daniel B. Abel, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District, presided over the ceremony.

Air Station Cape Cod is the only Coast Guard aviation facility in the Northeast and is responsible for the waters from New Jersey to the Canadian border. In an average year, the crews at Air Station Cape Cod conduct 250 search and rescue cases, save 58 lives, medically evacuate 50 people, and assist 89 people in distress.