PHOTO RELEASE: Clearwater Coast Guard unit with global mission welcomes new commander

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 09/19/2020 03:29 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

Photo 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

PHOTO RELEASE: Clearwater Coast Guard unit with global mission welcomes new commander

Members of Coast Guard Port Security Unit 307 salute Cmdr. Karl Hellberg, as he leaves his change of command ceremony at Air Station Clearwater, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. Hellberg transferred command of PSU 307 to Cmdr. Gregory Rogers, during the time-honored military tradition. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson)
Coast Guard Cmdr. Karl Hellberg, left, salutes Capt. Daniel W. Clark, Seventh District Senior Reserve Officer, during a change of command ceremony at Air Station Clearwater, Fla. Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. The ceremony is a military tradition representing the transfer of command, and absolute authority and responsibility for a military unit, from one officer to another. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson) Coast Guard Cmdr. Gregory Rogers, speaks to guests and members of Port Security Unit 307 after assuming command of the unit during a change of command ceremony at Air Station Clearwater, Fla. Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. 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 at Port Security Unit 309 in Port Clinton, Ohio, as the logistics officer. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson)


Editor's Note: Click on the images to download high resolution versions.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – A local U.S. Coast Guard Reserve unit that played a pivotal role in the 2017 U.S. hurricane response  welcomed a new commander at a ceremony in Clearwater, Saturday.

Cmdr. Karl Hellberg of Astoria, Oregon, was 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 160-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. 

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.

Click here for a recorded Facebook live stream of the event.

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

For more breaking news follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

-USCG-