MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Clearwater Coast Guard unit with global missions changes commanders

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay 305-965-4672 PA Detachment Tampa Bay online newsroom

 

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Clearwater Coast Guard unit with global missions changes commanders

 

Editor’s Note: Media are warmly welcome to attend this change of command; however, strict social distancing measures and mask use will be required to ensure the safety of all guests. Due to space restrictions related to the pandemic, media must RSVP with Lt. Cmdr. Donnie Brzuska at 727-212-7163 by Saturday at 10 a.m.

 

CLEARWATER, Fla. – A local U.S. Coast Guard Reserve unit that played a pivotal role in the 2017 U.S. hurricane response operations will hold a change of command Saturday at 12 p.m.

WHAT: Cmdr. Karl Hellberg of Astoria, Oregon, will be relieved by Cmdr. Gregory Rogers of Miamisburg, Ohio, as the commanding officer of Port Security Unit 307. Cmdr. Hellberg led U.S. Coast Guard PSU 307, a 150-person command, during a deployment to distribute food to victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, while providing security for search and rescue crews from the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security.

WHO: Approximately 40 crew members will attend the ceremony where Cmdr. Gregory Rogers will assume command from Cmdr. Karl Hellberg.

WHEN: Saturday, September 19, at 12 p.m.

WHERE: Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater Annex, 15300 Fairchild Dr., Clearwater, FL 33762. Members of the media will be required to provide a valid ID and media credentials.

Under Cmdr. Hellberg’s watch the reserve unit attained new levels of readiness and earned the coveted U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Exceptional Readiness Award. Port Security Unit 307 served as a center for excellence for Coast Guard reserve units from across the country, training tactical boat operators and fire teams in advanced weapons and tactics. These efforts were instrumental in the continued deployment of Coast Guard Reserve personnel in support of U.S. defense operations around the world.

Cmdr. Rogers, who has 21 years of combined military service in the Coast Guard and Marine Corps, takes the helm of PSU 307 after serving three years on active duty as the logistics officer of Port Security Unit 309 in Port Clinton, Ohio. Rogers deployed in support of defense operations in Korea and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with PSU 309. His experience and understanding of port security operations will ensure the continued success of PSU 307 and support to the Tampa Bay community.

Coast Guard Port Security Units conduct worldwide defense operations focused on waterside antiterrorism and force protection of U.S. and allied vessels. Established in 1999, PSU 307 has an extensive operational history. Unit personnel have deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations four times since 2001. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the unit deployed to secure Boston Harbor and protect U.S. naval vessels in Providence, Rhode Island. The unit also boasts an impressive humanitarian service record, which includes deployments to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Haiti following the devastating earthquake in 2010.

Please click here for photos and video of PSU 307 in action. 

 

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