NEW ORLEANS - Rear Adm. Roy A. Nash retired as commander of the 8th Coast Guard District during an official change of command ceremony at the National World War II Museum Thursday.
A native of Clifton Park, N.Y., Rear Adm. Nash is a 1979 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy. Nash also holds a Master of Science degree in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Rear Adm. Nash assumed command of the 8th District in June 2011.
As district commander, Nash was in charge of more than 100 units with 4,045 active duty and reserve members and an area of responsibility covering all or part of 26 states.
Prior to this assignment he served as special assistant to the deputy commandant for operations, following several months as deputy federal on-scene coordinator for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response. His first Flag assignment was deputy director of the National Maritime Intelligence Center.
His previous staff assignments include chief of staff of the 13th
Coast Guard District, executive assistant to the Coast Guard assistant commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection; assignment officer for the
Marine Safety program; and staff engineer at the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center and Coast Guard Headquarters.
Rear Adm. Nash’s command assignments include Commander, Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England; commanding officer of the Marine Safety Center, Washington, D.C.; commanding officer of Marine Safety Office Portland, Maine, and executive officer of Marine Safety Office Charleston, S.C.
His military decorations include the Legion of Merit (4), Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal (2), Coast Guard Commendation Medal (4), Coast Guard Achievement Medal, and various unit and team awards.
U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr. presided over the ceremony and presented Nash with a certificate of appreciation from President Barack Obama.
The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition and deeply rooted in Coast Guard and naval history. The event signifies a total transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability for the command. The ceremony is witnessed by all members so that they all know exactly when the transfer takes place.