Imagery Available: Astoria-based Coast Guard Cutter gets new commanding officer

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/16/2017 07:09 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

Month 00, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 13th District PA Detachment Astoria
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Astoria
Office: (503) 861-6380
After Hours: (206) 220-7237

Astoria-based Coast Guard Cutter gets new commanding officer

 

Cmdr. Jose Bolanos, commanding officer Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast, walks away from the Steadfast for the last time as CO of the cutter en route to a change-of command ceremony held at the Columbia River Memorial Museum in Astoria, Ore., June 16, 2017. Rear Adm. Pat DeQuattro, deputy commander Pacific Area, Cmdr. Alain Balmaceda and Cmdr. Jose Bolanos, commanding officer Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast, walk up the 17th Street Pier to the Steadfast's change-of-command ceremony held in Astoria, Ore., June 16, 2017.  Cmdr. Alain Balmaceda salutes Cmdr. Jose Bolanos as Rear Adm. Pat DeQuattro, deputy commander Pacific Area, oversees the changing of command from one officer to the next during the Steadfast's change-of-command ceremony in Astoria, Ore., June 16, 2017. Lt. Anthony Stallings, chaplain Sector Columbia River, Cmdr. Alain Balmaceda, Cmdr. Jose Bolanos, commanding officer Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast and Rear Adm. Pat DeQuattro, deputy commander Pacific Area, salute during the singing of the national anthem at the Steadfast change-of-command ceremony held in Astoria, Ore., June 16, 2017. Cmdr. Alain Balmaceda, commanding officer Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast, makes remarks shortly after taking command of the crew of the Steadfast during a change-of-command ceremony held in Astoria, Ore. June 16, 2017.

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution version.

ASTORIA, Ore. – Cmdr. Alain Balmaceda assumed the duties and responsibilities as commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast relieving Cmdr. Jose Bolanos, during a ceremony at the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Friday.

Balmaceda most recently served as deputy commander of Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia, where he oversaw 260 Coast Guardsmen and six Island-Class patrol boats forward deployed to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Balmaceda is a 1996 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy, a cutterman and a qualified Coast Guard diver.

Bolanos enlisted in the Coast Guard in August 1979 and after 38 years of active duty service, retired following the ceremony.

The change-of-command ceremony is a time-honored tradition which formally restates to the officers and crew of the command the continuity of the authority vested in the commanding officer. This unique military ritual represents a total transfer of responsibility, authority, and accountability from one leader to the next.

The Steadfast is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Astoria. The crew’s missions include homeland security, search and rescue, marine environmental response, recreational boating safety, port safety and security, and law enforcement including: alien migrant interdiction, pollution prevention, marine sanctuary protection, drug interdiction, and fisheries enforcement.

For more information contact the Steadfast's public affairs officer at 503-325-6812.

 

 

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