BALTIMORE – Coast Guard Station Crisfield, Md., welcomed a new officer in charge during a change of command ceremony at the station Monday at 10 a.m.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Benjamin Huber relieved Chief Warrant Officer Chris Gempp as the officer in charge.
While serving as Officer in Charge, Gempp skillfully directed response efforts resulting in the completion of 100 search and rescue cases and 487 law enforcement boardings. He also provided oversight of multiple facility projects valued at more than $750,000 through renovations to the station as well as the building of a multi-purpose boat maintenance facility.
As the prime unit for all 41-foot Utility Boat maintenance in Coast Guard Sector Baltimore’s area of responsibility, Gempp made significant contributions to the development and validation of more than 50 maintenance procedures that neighboring Coast Guard units used to ensure their assets were maintained and mission capable. Gempp’s next assignment will be serving at the Marine Safety and Security Team in New York, N.Y., as the assistant operations officer.
“I speak for the entire crew in saying that it has been an honor and a privilege to serve with Chief Warrant Officer Chris Gempp for the past two years,” said Petty Officer 1st Class John Jordan, the executive petty officer of Station Crisfield.
Huber reported to Station Crisfield from the Coast Guard Cutter Capstan, homeported in Philadelphia, Pa., where he served as the officer in charge. Prior to that, he served at Coast Guard Station Indian River Inlet in Rehoboth Beach, Del.
As the officer in charge of Station Crisfield, Huber is now responsible for search and rescue, law enforcement and environmental protection throughout the station’s area of responsibility.
