PORTSMOUTH, Va. – The Fifth Coast Guard District welcomes a new district commander during a change-of-command ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at the Integrated Support Command in Portsmouth.
Rear Adm. Wayne Justice will relieve Rear Adm. Fred M. Rosa, Jr., as the Fifth District Commander. Vice Adm. Robert J. Papp, Jr., Coast Guard Atlantic Area Commander, will preside at the ceremony.
Justice recently served as the Assistant Commandant for Capability at Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C., where his responsibilities included developing standards for staffing, training, equipping, sustaining, maintaining and employing of Coast Guard forces to meet mission requirements. Previously, Justice served as the Director of Response Policy, where he oversaw the development of operational policy guidance for search and rescue, law enforcement, defense operations, and incident management missions.
Prior to his move to Washington, he served as the Chief of Staff for the 7th Coast Guard District in Miami, Fla. Before serving as Chief of Staff, he served as the 7th District’s Chief of Operations and as the Chief of Law Enforcement. Other assignments include: Chief, Office of Programs at Headquarters, Executive Assistant to Commander, Atlantic Area, and Coast Guard Aide to Presidents George H.W. Bush and Clinton. Additionally, he served as Aide to the Vice-Commandant, and as the Senior Watch Officer in the Miami Operations Centers.
His underway assignments include: Commanding Officer Coast Guard Cutters Munro, Mohawk, Shearwater, and Cape Shoalwater. He served as the Executive Officer on the USCGC Dauntless and as Deck Watch Officer on USCGC Hamilton. During his career, Justice’s cutters seized 40 drug smuggling vessels, over 140 tons of marijuana and cocaine, arrested over 135 smugglers, and interdicted and rescued over 4,500 Haitian, Chinese, Ecuadorian and Cuban migrants.
Rear Adm. Rosa is retiring from the Coast Guard after 34 years. Highlights of his distinguished career include: serving as the Deputy Director of Intelligence and Criminal Investigation at Coast Guard Headquarters; serving on the staff of the National Security Council at the White House, where he was Director for Gulf War illnesses and later as the Director of the International Crime Group within the Office of Transnational Threats. He also served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Border and Transportation Security on the staff of the Homeland Security Council.
“I am proud and honored to have served with the outstanding men and women of the Fifth Coast Guard District,” said Rear Adm. Rosa. “We have shared in many accomplishments as the Coast Guard moves forward to modernize and position itself for the challenges that lie ahead.
“The men and women on my staff and in the field have expertly integrated the new technologies and operating principles that make the U.S. Coast Guard America’s maritime guardians and the world’s premier life saving service. My career extends over 34 years, and I cannot think of a better way to have served the public of this great nation.”
