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Coast Guard: Taking the helm
By Alex Powers, Staff Photographer
Thursday, August 21, 2008 | 1 comment(s)
As dozens of friends, family and fellow service members looked on, Lt. Jimmy Terrell took command of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Orcas Wednesday morning during a brief change of command ceremony on the Coos Bay Boardwalk.
Terrell previously served as an operations officer aboard the Cutter Munro in Kodiak, Alaska. The Munro’s crew conducted law enforcement and search and rescue operations off the west coast of North America. The Orcas, he said, was his first pick when he was looking for an assignment as a commanding officer.
“I’ve worked here before, in Seattle, and I like the mission and the weather,” Terrell said.
Jimmy Terrell
Because of those reasons — the mission and the weather — the Coast Guard would not have assigned just anybody to the Orcas, said Capt. Lance Benton, Terrell’s commanding officer at North Bend Group Air Station.
“The Orcas is tasked with operating in a challenging environment,” Benton said. “(Terrell) has got an outstanding reputation as a Coast Guard officer and as a professional sailor.”
The Cutter’s previous commanding officer, Lt. Matthew Kolodica, spent the two weeks prior to change of command overseeing operations aboard the Orcas with Terrell at his side. He was impressed by what he saw.
“I think Orcas got really lucky with Lt. Terrell coming down as their next C.O.,” he said. “I think he’s going to complement the ship really well.”
Terrell couldn’t hide his enthusiasm.
“I’m extremely impressed with the condition of the ship and the proficiency of the crew,” he said. “Both are among the best that I’ve seen.”
The Orcas has watched 11 officers come and go since it was built in the late 1980s. During Terrell’s tour as commanding officer, the cutter will be due for a “mid-life boat haul” late next summer. The ship will be out of service for nine months before steaming back into action.
Terrell will see it through that process, but for now he is busy with his new occupation as the vessel’s commander.
“I’m excited, I’m proud of the ship and I’m ready to serve,” he said.
Terrell previously served as an operations officer aboard the Cutter Munro in Kodiak, Alaska. The Munro’s crew conducted law enforcement and search and rescue operations off the west coast of North America. The Orcas, he said, was his first pick when he was looking for an assignment as a commanding officer.
“I’ve worked here before, in Seattle, and I like the mission and the weather,” Terrell said.
Jimmy TerrellBecause of those reasons — the mission and the weather — the Coast Guard would not have assigned just anybody to the Orcas, said Capt. Lance Benton, Terrell’s commanding officer at North Bend Group Air Station.
“The Orcas is tasked with operating in a challenging environment,” Benton said. “(Terrell) has got an outstanding reputation as a Coast Guard officer and as a professional sailor.”
The Cutter’s previous commanding officer, Lt. Matthew Kolodica, spent the two weeks prior to change of command overseeing operations aboard the Orcas with Terrell at his side. He was impressed by what he saw.
“I think Orcas got really lucky with Lt. Terrell coming down as their next C.O.,” he said. “I think he’s going to complement the ship really well.”
Terrell couldn’t hide his enthusiasm.
“I’m extremely impressed with the condition of the ship and the proficiency of the crew,” he said. “Both are among the best that I’ve seen.”
The Orcas has watched 11 officers come and go since it was built in the late 1980s. During Terrell’s tour as commanding officer, the cutter will be due for a “mid-life boat haul” late next summer. The ship will be out of service for nine months before steaming back into action.
Terrell will see it through that process, but for now he is busy with his new occupation as the vessel’s commander.
“I’m excited, I’m proud of the ship and I’m ready to serve,” he said.
More to come
What: Coast Guard Capt. Lance O. Benton will transfer command of Coast Guard Group/Air Station North Bend to Capt. Scott A. Kitchen in a change of command ceremony that will be held in the hangar at Group/Air Station North Bend.
When: 11 a.m., Friday
Where: Air Station North Bend
What: Coast Guard Capt. Lance O. Benton will transfer command of Coast Guard Group/Air Station North Bend to Capt. Scott A. Kitchen in a change of command ceremony that will be held in the hangar at Group/Air Station North Bend.
When: 11 a.m., Friday
Where: Air Station North Bend
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