Capt. Gary Leigh relieved Capt. Chris Peterschmidt as commander of Coastal Riverine Group 1 (CRG-1) during a change of command ceremony at Naval Outlying Landing Field, Imperial Beach, California, Oct. 20.
Peterschmidt assumed command of CRG-1 in April 2013.
Rear Adm. Frank Morneau, commander of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and guest speaker said:
There are expeditionary security teams aboard U.S. flagged vessels going through the Suez Canal, guarding our submarines going through the Panama Canal, protecting units going through the Straits of Hormuz, and there is a young chief petty officer and his team prepared to stand in harm’s way within about 90 seconds should a small boat approach any of those craft; irregular expeditionary warfare.
Our boat crews stand duty 24/7, 365, around the globe. This group has been with four different combatant commands in the execution of its duties and it continues to execute its mission brilliantly.
During Peterschmidt’s time as commander, CRG-1 trained, certified, and deployed two coastal riverine squadrons and numerous detachment-level missions to Central Command, European Command, Pacific Command, and Africa Command providing combatant commanders the anti-terrorism and force protection forces needed to protect high value units operating within their areas of responsibility.
CRG-1 also developed the training and certification requirements for the Navy’s first coastal command boat, deploying the first crew to the U.S. 5th Fleet within six months of fleet acceptance. The training and certification plan will serve as the foundation and prototype for the future Mark VI patrol boat.
Peterschmidt is a graduate of Marquette University and was commissioned an ensign in 1987. His next assignment will be Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command.
Leigh is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and was commissioned an ensign in 1991.
Coastal Riverine Force (CRF) operates in harbors, rivers, bays, across the littorals and ashore.
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Press release, Image: US Navy