SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard Cutter Tern commanding officer will be relieved in a change-of-command ceremony scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Monday at Sector San Francisco on Yerba Buena Island, Calif.
Lt. j.g. Joshua Kitenko will relieve Lt.Matthew Pekoske as commanding officer of the Tern during the time honored military tradition.
Kitenko graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Operations Research and Computer Analysis. His first assignment was as a deck watch officer aboard the CGC Forward, a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Va., where he held duty assignments as electronic materials officer and first lieutenant.
Pekoske assumed the duties of commanding officer of the Tern in June, 2010. During his time on the Tern, Pekoske and the crew recovered and seized over 3,000 pounds of Marijuana valued at over $2.5 million, conducted 82 at sea inspections of recreational and commercial fishing vessels, and saved the lives of 29 people.
Pekoske will report to Coast Guard Atlantic Area in Portsmouth, Va., to serve as Aide to Vice Admiral Robert Parker the Commander of Coast Guard Atlantic Area.
The Tern is an 87-foot Patrol Boat homeported on Yerba Buena Island. It is one of four multi-mission cutters located in the San Francisco Area. Its missions include search and rescue, law enforcement, and marine safety and security.
A change of command ceremony is a time honored naval tradition, which formally restates to the officers and crew of a unit, the continuity and authority of command. It involves the total transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability from one individual to another.
Capt. Cynthia Stowe, commander of Sector San Francisco, will preside over the ceremony.
