ASTORIA, Ore. - Capt. Daniel L. LeBlanc passed the authority of command to Capt. Patrick A. Ropp at Marine Safety Unit Portland‘s change of command ceremony on Swan Island today.
Capt. LeBlanc is responsible for prevention operations covering three states, which includes 550 coastal miles, extending 200 miles offshore, and served as the federal incident commander for the multi-agency oil and hazardous material response to the derelict vessel Davy Crockett.
Capt. Ropp served as the chief of the Inspections and Investigations Branch for the 17th Coast Guard District in Juneau, Alaska, where he organized the nation’s largest non-emergent, relief and prevention outreach effort, while scheduling more than 55 tribal engagements in 26 villages throughout the North Slope and Western Alaska.
The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition which signifies the transfer of responsibility and formally states the officer’s continuity and authority of command.
It is a formal ritual conducted before the assembled company of the command and it confirms to the men and women of the unit the authority of command is maintained.
For more information contact Coast Guard Public Affairs at 503-861-6132.