PORTSMOUTH, Va. – Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., is scheduled to change commanding officers during a ceremony at 11 a.m., Wednesday at Air Station Elizabeth City.
Capt. John T. Hardin will formally relieve Capt. Michael J. Andres.
Hardin graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., on May 23, 1984 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. He comes to Air Station Elizabeth City from his last assignment as the response division chief for the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans.
His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, two Air Medals, three Commendation Medals, an Achievement Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, and two Humanitarian Service Medals.
Andres, a native of Lake Ozark, Mo., graduated with honors from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1984 with a bachelor of science degree in ocean engineering. He also holds a masters of science degree in industrial engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His next assignment is chief of response for commander, Fifth Coast Guard District in Portsmouth, Va.
The change of command is a time-honored naval tradition where the current commanding officer is formally relieved in a ceremony with unit personnel, family and friends in attendance. This ceremony highlights the responsibility of command and clearly demonstrates the transfer of that responsibility from one commanding officer to the next. Rear Adm. Fred M. Rosa, commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, will officiate the ceremony.
Preceding the change of command ceremony is a decommissioning ceremony for the Coast Guard C-130J Aircraft Project Office at 10 a.m. The C-130J APO was established in 2003 to assist the director of acquisition programs in missionizing the C-130J aircraft, developing all operational and maintenance procedures, training a cadre of pilots, aircrew and maintenance technicians, and conducting developmental testing and evaluation to prepare the C-130J aircraft fleet for operational service.
