US Coast Guard Holds Change of Command Ceremony

Capt. Joseph McGuiness was relieved by Capt. Steve Teschendorf as the commander for Coast Guard Sector Ste. Sainte Marie, Mich., Tuesday, at a ceremony at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie.

Sector Sault Ste. Marie is responsible for all Coast Guard missions — including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, aids to navigation, marine safety and homeland security — on Lake Superior and northern Lakes Michigan and Huron.

Rear Adm. Michael N. Parks, 9th Coast Guard District commander, was the presiding official over the change-of-command ceremony, which is a time-honored tradition that formally confirms to the people assigned to a unit the continuity of authority of the commander.

Immediately following the change-of-command ceremony, McGuiness retired after 28 years of faithful and dedicated Coast Guard service. For crew’s efforts while McGuiness was assigned as sector commander, the unit was awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation. McGuiness was personally awarded the Legion of Merit.

Located on the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie, the sector is the operational and administrative commander of 15 subordinate field units, including eight multi-mission smallboat stations, one marine safety unit, two aids-to-navigation teams, and four Coast Guard cutters. The sector’s missions are accomplished by a dedicated workforce of 248 active-duty, 70 reserve, and 26 civilian personnel.

Numerous international, state, and local agency and industry partners were in attendance.

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Naval Today Staff, May 1, 2013; Image: USCG