U.S Coast Guard HALIBUT Holds Change of Command Ceremony 2021

MARINA DEL REY, Calif. — The Coast Guard Cutter Halibut received a new commanding officer during a change-of-command ceremony in Marina del Rey.

Captain Kristi Bernstein, Deputy Sector Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Los Angeles Long Beach, presided over the ceremony.

Lt. Mark Guentert, commanding officer of the cutter Halibut, relinquished command to Lt. j.g. Jillian Bray during a time-honored military tradition that formally transfers and ensures the continuity of command.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve alongside the crew of Coast Guard Cutter HALIBUT,” said Guentert. “The absolute best part has just been working with the people on board. I depart the ship knowing the men and women assigned aboard will continue to do great things for our service and our nation.”

Guentert will report for duty as the Junior Afloat Assignment Officer at the USCG Personnel Service Center in Washington, D.C. Of note, at the beginning of the pandemic, Guentert and his crew completed escorting the hospital ship USNS Mercy.

Bray reports to the Halibut from her previous tour serving as the Executive Officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter ADAK (WPB 1333), responsible for maintenance, training, equipment, and overall readiness of 1 of 8 forward deployed Patrol Boats working for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Fifth Fleet in the Arabian Gulf.

Prior to her tour on ADAK, Lt. j.g. Jillian Bray graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Government. After commissioning, she reported to the USCGC TAMPA (WMEC 902) in Portsmouth, Virginia, where she trained as a Deck Watch Officer and served as the Assistant Navigator, the Electronic Materials Officer, and the Assistant Operations Officer.

The climax of the ceremony is reached when both officers read their orders, face one another, salute and transfer responsibility for the command. This provides the entire command with the knowledge that the officer directed by proper authority is taking command and an opportunity to witness this transfer of responsibility.

A change of command is a military tradition representing a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one commanding or flag officer to another. The passing of colors, standards, or ensigns from an outgoing commander to an incoming one ensures that the unit and its members are never without official leadership, a continuation of trust.

The Coast Guard Cutter Halibut is a 87-foot Marine Protector Class coastal patrol cutter and is home-ported in Marina del Rey capable of responding to homeland security, search-and-rescue, and marine environmental protection missions. The Halibut is known throughout the Coast Guard as “the Hollywood cutter” because of its close proximity to Los Angeles and is often used as a representation of the Coast Guard in many news broadcasts, television shows and movie productions.

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The Navy League of the United States, founded in 1902 with the support of President Theodore Roosevelt, is a nonprofit civilian, educational and advocacy organization that supports America’s sea services: the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine.

The Beverly Hills Council of the Navy League of the U.S chartered in 1957 proudly sponsors & has adopted the USS HAMPTON (SSN-767), U.S. Coast Guard Air Station, USCGC Halibut (WPB-87340), NROTC UCLA, and the SEA CADET CORPS S.S Lane Victory Division. Rafael Magana, President and CEO, was in attendance to congratulate outgoing Lt. Mark Guentert and welcome Lt. j.g. Jillian Bray to Southern California.