New admiral taking helm of Coast Guard in Alaska

The cutter Mustang in Seward. Wesley Loy photo

Rear Adm. Gene Brooks, head of the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska, is yielding to a new commander on Thursday.

Brooks has been Alaska commander since May 2006, when he replaced the retiring Rear Adm. James Olson.

Here's a press release:

U.S. Coast Guard, 17th District

July 13, 2009

17th Coast Guard District to hold change of command ceremony

JUNEAU, Alaska — The 17th Coast Guard District will hold a formal change of command ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday at Centennial Hall where Rear Adm. Christopher C. Colvin will relieve Rear Adm. Gene Brooks as Commander, 17th Coast Guard District. Vice Adm. Jody Breckenridge, Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area, will preside at the ceremony.

Brooks will report to Coast Guard Operations Command in Portsmouth, Va., to assume duties as deputy commander.

Colvin was previously assigned as the Deputy Director of Operations for Headquarters United States Northern Command.

Rear Adm. Colvin’s afloat assignments include serving as Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Cutter Dallas (WHEC 716), Coast Guard Cutter Diligence (WMEC 616) and Coast Guard Cutter Cape Upright (WPB 95303). Staff assignments have included serving as the Chief of Operations and Chief of Cutter Forces, Atlantic Area in Portsmouth, Va.; Chief Staff Officer and Coast Guard Liaison Officer at the U.S. Navy’s Afloat Training Group, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Senior Rescue Coordination Center Controller, Pacific Area, in Alameda; and Chief of Staff for the Coast Guard’s Atlantic Area, in Portsmouth, Va.

A 1979 graduate of Officer Candidate School, Rear Admiral Colvin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1976 and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, Newport, R.I., in 1999.

Rear Admiral Colvin’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and DOT 9-11 Medal.