IMAGERY AVAILABLE: Coast Guard Base Alameda gets new commanding officer

Coast Guard Base Alameda gets new commanding officer

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Alameda, Calif. — Capt. Jose A. Peña assumed command of Coast Guard Base Alameda, Tuesday, during a change-of-command ceremony held on Coast Guard Island. 

Peña relieved Capt. Jon P. Hickey, who has served as the Base Alameda commanding officer since July 2015.

Peña previously served as the commanding officer at Base Los Angeles-Long Beach, where he was the senior mission support representative in Southern California. He oversaw a $3.6 million annual program and daily logistics support to 10 tenant commands, including delivery of logistics, accounting, procurement, galley, security and port operations, medical and work-life support services.

Peña received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Puerto Rico and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Illinois. He graduated from Coast Guard Officer Candidate School in 1995.  

Hickey was awarded the Legion of Merit during the ceremony for his three years of command, where he was responsible for providing mission support to 13,000 people, 60 ships, 11 sectors and 10 air stations.

Rear Adm. James Heinz, the director of operational logistics for the Coast Guard, presided over the ceremony.

The change-of-command ceremony is a historic military ritual. The event, which has remained unchanged for centuries, includes a reading of the command orders in the presence of all unit crew members to ensure continuity of command.

-USCG-