Port of Houston Gets New Captain of the Port

A new commander of Coast Guard units in the Houston-Galveston area & Captain of the Port in those areas has relieved his predecessor during a change-of-command ceremony in Clear Lake.

Capt. Brian Penoyer relieved Capt. James Whitehead, who is retiring from the Coast Guard after 26 years of service.

As the commanding officer of Sector Houston-Galveston, Penoyer will oversee multi-mission operations from maritime homeland security to maritime environmental response.

Prior to assuming command of Sector Houston-Galveston, Penoyer was a U.S. Coast Guard fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. A specialist in coastal operations and a designated Coast Guard marine safety professional, he was also assigned as acting chief of congressional and governmental affairs, where he was responsible for all Coast Guard engagement with Congress, and with state, tribal, and local elected officials.

In the picture: apt. Brian Penoyer salutes Rear Adm. Kevin Cook, commander of the 8th Coast Guard District, during a change of command ceremony at the Bay Area Community Center in Clear Lake, Texas, June 14, 2013. Capt. James Whitehead was relieved by Penoyer.