Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District

Date: July 11, 2008
Contact: PA3 David Marin
(206) 220-7237

NAVAL ENGINEERING SUPPORT UNIT CHANGE OF COMMAND

PHOTOS AVAILABLE 

SEATTLE - Coast Guard Naval Engineering Support Unit (NESU) Seattle held a change of command ceremony here July 11, 2008. In this photo, from left to right, Chaplain Bryan K. Finch, Cmdr. Daniel J. Frank, Cmdr. Marc P. Lebeau and Capt. Matthew S. von Ruden. (Official Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class David R. Marin)

SEATTLE - Coast Guard Naval Engineering Support Unit (NESU) Seattle held a change of command ceremony here July 11, 2008. (Official Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class David R. Marin)

During the change of command ceremony, Cmdr. Marc P. Lebeau, photographed here, relinquished the responsibilities of NESU commanding officer. Capt. Matthew S. von Ruden, the Naval Engineering Division Chief of the Maintenance and Logistics Command, presided over the ceremony.

SEATTLE - Coast Guard Naval Engineering Support Unit (NESU) Seattle held a change of command ceremony here July 11, 2008. (Official Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class David R. Marin)

During the change of command ceremony, Cmdr. Daniel J Frank, photographed here, assumed the responsibilities of NESU commanding officer. Capt. Matthew S. von Ruden, the Naval Engineering Division Chief of the Maintenance and Logistics Command, presided over the ceremony.

SEATTLE - Coast Guard Naval Engineering Support Unit (NESU) Seattle held a change of command ceremony here today.

During the change of command ceremony, Cmdr. Daniel J Frank assumed the responsibilities of NESU commanding officer. Capt. Matthew S. von Ruden, the Naval Engineering Division Chief of the Maintenance and Logistics Command, presided over the ceremony.

NESU Seattle is the largest of three NESUs within Maintenance and Logistics Command Pacific.  Its 93 active duty personnel and 11 reservists provide maintenance assistance to all cutters within the Washington and Alaska geographic area.

NESU Seattle's Cutter Maintenance Division, comprised of three Maintenance Augmentation Teams, provides direct hull, mechanical, electrical and ordinance maintenance augmentation to five cutters home ported in Seattle.  NESU  Seattle also provides contract coordination and technical assistance to 36 cutters, ranging from 87' patrol boats to a 420' Icebreaker and 40 standard boats, through a staff of 15 port engineers.  NESU Seattle maintains one of the Coast Guard's largest spare parts inventories in support of the Polar Class icebreakers.

The Change of Command Ceremony is a time-honored military tradition that formally restates the continuity of authority to the officers and crew of the command.  The occasion confirms to all hands that authority has been shifted and that a duly authorized officer has been placed in charge.  Deeply rooted in Coast Guard history, this unique and formal ritual publicly underscores the distinctive nature of command and signifies the total transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability for the command.  It marks the end of a segment of the command's history and most importantly signals a new beginning and a new opportunity for even greater achievements in the future. 

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