Coast Guard to hold change-of-command ceremony for commander of Marine Safety Unit Chicago

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 9th District Great Lakes Contact: Lt. Kate Woods Office: (630) 986-2156 Kate.A.Woods@uscg.mil 9th District online newsroom

Coast Guard to hold change-of-command ceremony for commander of
Marine Safety Unit Chicago

 

CHICAGO  — The Coast Guard is scheduled to hold a change-of-command ceremony for Marine Safety Unit Chicago, the unit responsible for executing the port safety and security, marine environmental protection, and commercial vessel safety missions in Chicago, on the southern end of Lake Michigan and 186 miles of the Illinois River system, Friday.

Capt. Thomas Stuhlreyer, commander, Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, will preside over the ceremony to transfer command of MSU Chicago from Cmdr. Zeita Merchant to Cmdr. Randy Preston.

Merchant, a Chicago native, assumed the duties of commanding officer on July 8, 2016 serving as the first female officer to command the unit and the first African American female to command a Coast Guard marine safety unit. Merchant’s most recent tours include serving as the special assistant to the vice commandant of the Coast Guard; the executive officer of Marine Safety Unit Texas City, Texas; and a congressional fellow on two committees in the U.S. House of Representatives

Preston is arriving in Chicago from New Orleans where he was the chief of the Coast Guard Investigations National Center of Expertise. Bringing 14 years of operations ashore experience, his previous tours include supervisor of Marine Safety Detachment Lewes, Delaware; prevention department head of Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh, and chief of the Inspections Division at Marine Safety Unit Galveston.

WHO: Cmdr. Zeita Merchant and Cmdr. Randy Preston

WHAT: Change-of-Command ceremony where Cmdr. Zeita Merchant will be relieved of command of MSU Chicago by Cmdr. Randy Preston 

WHEN: 10 a.m., Friday, June 28, 2019

WHERE: Union League of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60604

The ceremony is expected to last approximately 60 minutes. Cmdr. Merchant and Cmdr. Preston will be available for brief media interviews immediately after the ceremony.

A change-of-command ceremony is a time-honored tradition that signifies the absolute transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability from one individual to another. The event ensures the continuity of leadership and operations within the unit’s area of responsibility.

Media interested in attending the change of command should R.S.V.P. to the MSU Chicago Public Affairs Office at 630-986-2156 or MSUChicago@uscg.mil no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday.

 

 

 

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