New captain of the port in Houston

Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Manda Emery | Capt. Hal Pitts salutes Capt. Brian Penoyer, the new commander of Coast Guard Sector Houston/Galveston, during a change of command ceremony at the Bay Area Community Center in Clear Lake, Texas, June 14, 2013. Penoyer relieves Capt. James Whitehead, who retires after 26 years of service. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Manda M. Emery)  

HOUSTON, TX, UNITED STATES

06.14.2013

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann 

U.S. Coast Guard District 8 PADET Houston

HOUSTON - A new commander over Coast Guard units in the Houston-Galveston area and captain of the port in those areas relieved his predecessor Friday during a change of command ceremony in Clear Lake.

Capt. Brian Penoyer relieved Capt. James Whitehead, who is retiring from the Coast Guard after 26 years of service

As the commanding officer of Sector Houston-Galveston, Penoyer will oversee multi-mission operations, from maritime homeland security to maritime environmental response.

Prior to assuming command of Sector Houston-Galveston, Penoyer was a U.S. Coast Guard fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. A specialist in coastal operations and a designated Coast Guard marine safety professional, he was also assigned as acting chief of congressional and governmental affairs, where he was responsible for all Coast Guard engagement with Congress, and with state, tribal, and local elected officials.

• Date Taken: 06.14.2013
• Date Posted: 06.14.2013 17:36
• Story ID: 108701
• Location: HOUSTON, TX, US