New commander to take charge of Coast Guard air operations in Houston/Galveston area

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/22/2017 04:16 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

 Media Advisory  

June 22, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas
Contact: 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas
Office: (281) 464-4810
After Hours: (832) 293-1293

New commander to take charge of Coast Guard air operations in Houston/Galveston area

 

HOUSTON — A Coast Guard commander from Corpus Christi is scheduled to take charge of Air Station Houston during a change-of-command ceremony Friday morning. The air station provides air support along a 240-mile stretch of coastline from Matagorda Bay to White Lake, Louisiana.

WHO: Cmdr. James W. Spitler is scheduled to relieve Cmdr. Craig J. Massello. The 8th District commander, Rear Adm. Dave Callahan, will be officiating the ceremony.                          

WHAT: The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition used to transfer total responsibility, authority and accountability from one individual to another. The concept of the ceremony is to formally relay to the members of the unit the continuity of command and has not changed for hundreds of years.

WHERE: Air Station Houston

1178 Ellington Field
Houston, TX 77034

WHEN: Friday, June 23, at 10 a.m. (media to arrive by 9:30 a.m.)

Cmdr. Massello assumed command of Air Station Houston in June of 2015. Under his leadership, Air Station Houston crews flew over 4,200 hours within their area of responsibility between White Lake, Louisiana, and Matagorda Bay, responding to 186 search and rescue cases, saving or assisting more than 100 lives and saving over $1.7 million in property.

Cmdr. Spitler most recently served as Sector Corpus Christi’s Engineering Officer, responsible for all Aeronautical, Naval and Civil Engineering functions throughout the Sector. He is a 1997 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Master of Science degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University.

Today, Air Station Houston’s 19 officers, 54 enlisted personnel, and three civilians support the operation of three MH-65 Dolphin helicopters.

Interested media members should contact Lt. Jason Brownlee at 713-578-3035 to confirm attendance. Media personnel covering the event are requested to arrive no later than 9:30 a.m.

-USCG-