Coast Guard Cutter Northland holds change-of-command ceremony in Portsmouth, Virginia

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/17/2020 10:32 AM EDT

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Coast Guard Cutter Northland holds change-of-command ceremony in Portsmouth, Virginia

Cmdr. Charles L. Banks, outgoing commander of Coast Guard Cutter Northland, receives an award from Capt. Mark Gordon, chief of operations for the Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, during a time-honored traditional change-of-command ceremony in Portsmouth, Virginia, June 16, 2020. Cmdr. Patricia M. Bennet relieved Cmdr. Charles L. Banks as commander of Coast Guard Cutter Northland, which is a multi-mission 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter based out of Portsmouth. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Auxiliarist Trey Clifton) Capt. Mark Gordon, chief of operations for the Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, reads an award with Cmdr. Charles L. Banks during Coast Guard Cutter Northland's change-of-command ceremony in Portsmouth, Virginia, June 16, 2020. Cmdr. Patricia M. Bennet relieved Cmdr. Charles L. Banks as commander of Coast Guard Cutter Northland in the time-honored traditional ceremony held aboard the Northland, a multi-mission, 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Auxiliarist Trey Clifton) Capt. Mark Gordon, chief of operations for the Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, presides over the change-of-command ceremony for Coast Guard Cutter Northland, June 16, 2020, in Portsmouth, Virginia. Coast Guard Cmdr. Patricia M. Bennet relieved Cmdr. Charles L. Banks as commander of Coast Guard Cutter Northland in the time-honored traditional ceremony, which is a multi-mission, 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Auxiliarist Trey Clifton)

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Coast Guard Cmdr. Patricia M. Bennet relieved Cmdr. Charles L. Banks as commander of Coast Guard Cutter Northland in an official change-of-command ceremony held aboard the ship, Tuesday.

Capt. Mark Gordon, chief of operations for Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, presided over the time-honored tradition and ceremony. 

Bennet most recently served as the executive officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa, and has also served aboard Coast Guard Cutters Midgett, Mustang, Adak, and Sanibel.

Banks will assume the position of chief of cutter forces for Atlantic Area Command, and serve as fleet manager for the Atlantic Area commander in Portsmouth.

Coast Guard Cutter Northland is a 270-foot cutter based out of Portsmouth, and is a multi-mission platform, which allows crews to conduct missions such as law enforcement, humanitarian missions, and search and rescue.

-USCG-