New commanding officer assumes command of Coast Guard Cutter in Santa Barbara

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/14/2017 06:29 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

July 14, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 11th District PA Detachment LA/LB
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment LA/LB
Office: (310) 521-4260
After Hours: (310) 781-0619

New commanding officer assumes command of Coast Guard Cutter in Santa Barbara, Calif.

 

 

                                             Coast Guard Capt. Charlene Downey, commanding officer Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach pins an award to Lt. Edward Kalankiewicz, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackfin, during the Cutter Blackfin's change-of-command ceremony July 14, 2017, Santa Barbara, Calif. The change-of-command ceremony is a time honored tradition which formally restates to the officers and personnel of a acommand the continuity of the authority of command. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd class DaVonte Marrow.

                                Coast Guard Capt. Charlene Downey, commanding officer Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach administered the official change-of-command of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackfin from Lt. Edward Kalankiewicz to Lt. j.g. Alex J. Oswald, July 14, 2017, Santa Barbara, Calif. A change-of-command ceremony is a unique military tradition in which the total responsibility, authority and accountablility of a ship and it's crew is transfered from one individual to another. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd class DaVonte Marrow.Members of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackfin present Lt. Edward Kalankiewicz with the cutter Blackfin's commissioning pennant at the Blackfin's change-of-command ceremony, July 14, 2017, Santa Barbara, Calif. In change-of-command ceremonies the old commissioning pennant is lowered from the warship's masthead and presented to the prior commanding officer as they depart, and a new one is put up. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd class DaVonte Marrow.

 

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard Cutter Blackfin (WPB 87317) received a new commanding officer during a change-of-command ceremony in Santa Barbara, Friday.

Lt. Edward Kalankiewicz,  commanding officer of the cutter Blackfin, relinquished command to Lt. j.g. Alex Oswald during a time-honored military tradition that formally transfers and ensures the continuity of command.

Oswald reports to the Blackfin from his previous tour serving as the operations officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Maui (WPB 1304), a 110- foot patrol boat, one of six forward deployed U.S. Coast guard patrol boats supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in the Arabian Gulf.

The Coast Guard Cutter Blackfin is a Marine Protector Class coastal patrol cutter and is home-ported in Santa Barbara. The Blackfin shares the name of the USS Blackfin (SS-322) a submarine that participated in World War II and the Korean War. 

-USCG-