SEATTLE – Cmdr. Thomas P. Sullivan relieved Cmdr. Michael A. Baroody of command of the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit – Bangor, Wash., during a change-of-command ceremony on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.
The ceremony was held at Naval Base Kitsap in Silverdale, Wash.
Cmdr. Baroody enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1985 and completed Officer Candidates School training, in Yorktown, Va., in 1992. He assumed command of MFPU Bangor in July 2008, and will leave for his next assignment at U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Cmdr. Sullivan’s previous assignment was as Executive Officer of the Electronic Systems Support Unit in Honolulu, where he was responsible for communications, computer, network and navigation systems support for 45 units throughout the Fourteenth District from Hawaii, west to Singapore, and south to American Samoa.
Cmdr. Sullivan enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1981 and completed 13 years of enlisted service, advancing to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He completed Officer Candidate School training, as the honor graduate, in 1994.
Cmdr. Sullivan’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Coast Guard Commendation Medal with operational device and four gold stars, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal with operational device, the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon, the Expert Pistol Medal, the enlisted cutterman’s insignia and a number of other service medals and unit awards.
Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore, Commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District, presided over the ceremony.
The mission of MFPU Bangor is to provide a unique capability necessary to address the protection of special high value units in their homeport transit areas, as part of the Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security mission. MFPU Bangor is a single?mission unit. The requirements and capabilities are contained in a Navy?Coast Guard in?transit escort concept of operations (document is classified). These units provide an invaluable service to the Navy and the nation with our unique ability to exercise Coast Guard law enforcement authorities while enforcing a Naval Vessel Protective Zone in near?shore and off?shore areas.
Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Coast Guard has been providing security escorts to a variety of Navy assets. MFPU Bangor is trained and equipped to provide security escorts for strategic naval assets transiting the Puget Sound and Strait of Juan de Fuca. MFPU Bangor units employ their Coast Guard law enforcement authority (14 USC 89) to enforce a security zone surrounding Naval submarines in the Sector Puget Sound Captain of the Port Zone and as a Regulated Navigation Area for Navy submarines in Hood Canal. The security zone was established to ensure the safety of naval vessels and mitigate the risk of attack.
The change of command is a time-honored tradition and deeply rooted in Coast Guard and Naval history. The event signifies a total transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability for the command. The ceremony is witnessed by all members so that they all know exactly when the transfer of leadership takes place.
