ALAMEDA, Calif. — U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Unit (PSU) 312 held a change-of-command ceremony Saturday, Sept. 21, 2012, at Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco.
The change-of-command ceremony is a time-honored tradition and deeply rooted in Coast Guard and naval history.
During the ceremony, Cmdr. Tiffany Danko assumed the duties, authority and accountability for the unit and its crew from Cmdr. David A. Menchaca.
Cmdr. David Menchac conducts a personnel inspection during a change of command ceremony Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Loumania Stewart
Menchaca assumed the duties of commanding officer, Port Security Unit 312, in November 2010. He began his Coast Guard career as a Fireman Apprentice in the Engineering Department aboard Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell after graduating from boot camp. He was subsequently selected for Officer Candidate School and received his commission December 16, 1994. Menchaca’s first tour in the marine safety field was at Marine Safety Office, San Francisco, where he held a variety of positions.
Danko, originally from Texas, graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1995. Her first assignment began as a plank owner on the newly commissioned Coast Guard Cutter Juniper. During her career, she has served in numerous operational capacities both in and out of the United States, including: Surface Warfare Officer aboard the U.S.S. O’Brien: the U.S. Navy Seventh Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan; and Intelligence Watch Officer and Analyst at the Coast Guard Intelligence Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. Recently, she served as a Security Assistance officer for the Caribbean in the J-7 Theater Engagement Directorate on the staff of U.S. Southern Command. In 2011, she was assigned as the Senior Reserve Officer for Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, Fla.
Port Security Unit 312 is a Deployable Specialized Force under control of the Coast Guard’s Pacific Area Command and established in August 2005, moved to its permanent home located at San Francisco Airport adjacent to Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco in November of 2006.
The units missions are to provide port security in support of military and humanitarian operations worldwide. The crew is required to be air deployable within 96 hours of call up and be self-sufficient for 30 days.
Click the photo for more from the ceremony.
