HONOLULU- Capt. Patrick S. McElligatt relieved Capt. James C. Koermer as the Coast Guard Base Honolulu commanding officer during a change of command ceremony at Base Honolulu, Wednesday.
McElligatt most recently served as executive officer of Coast Guard Base Kodiak, Alaska.
Previously McElligatt served at the financial analysis division at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he managed a staff responsible for executing over $1 billion in operating funds. Subsequent staff tours at headquarters included the personal allowance division, where he was overall funds manager for all military, civilian and military retiree payroll funds, which totaled over $4 billion. Previous operational assignments in the Coast Guard include: Group/Captain of the Port New York; Marine Inspection Office New York; Group/Marine Safety Office Long Island Sound andSector Southeastern New England where he was officer in charge of marine inspection.
“My family and I are very excited to be stationed in Honolulu,” said McElligatt. “Serving as commanding officer is a dream job for me and I feel extremely fortunate to be leading such an experienced and motivated staff.”
His awards include three Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medals, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal and two Commandant’s Letter of Commendation. He was awarded the Marine Safety Insignia in 2000.
McElligatt graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1987 with a degree in Marine Transportation and a Third Mate unlimited tonnage/oceans license. He sailed in the Merchant Marine for three years aboard oil tankers, towing vessels and passenger vessels before entering the Coast Guard in 1991. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in finance from the University of Connecticut.
Koermer took command of Base Honolulu in January 2011. He will be assuming the role of deputy of the Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Information Technology Service Center in Alexandria, Va.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to have worked with the outstanding Coast Guard men and women of Base Honolulu, who demonstrate such great dedication to mission support and the spirit of aloha,” said Koermer.
Base Honolulu’s mission is to deliver integrated mission support during routine and contingency operations throughout the 14th Coast Guard District’s area of responsibility. The area of responsibility encompasses more that 12.2 million square miles in the Central and Western Pacific Ocean.
Rear Adm. Thomas W. Jones, the Coast Guard’s Director of Operational Logistics, presided over the ceremony.
The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition and formal ritual conducted before the assembled company of a command to confirm to the men and women of the unit that the authority of command is maintained. The ceremony is a transfer of total responsibility, authority and accountability from one individual to another.
Capt. Patrick S. McElligatt shakes hands with Capt. James C. Koermer after relieving him as the Coast Guard Base Honolulu commanding officer during a change of command ceremony at Base Honolulu on June 26, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
