CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A change of command ceremony is scheduled for the Maritime Security Response Team at Naval Security Group Activity Chesapeake, 11 a.m. Friday.
During the ceremony, Capt. Brian P. Thompson will assume the responsibilities of MSRT commanding officer from Capt. Keith M. Smith.
Under Smith’s command, the team filled a critical homeland security gap with an advanced interdiction force that included organic command and control; assault; precision marksman; chemical, biological radiological and nuclear detection; surface mobility and logistics capabilities. The unit deployed large-scale, adaptive force packages to support national special security events, including the 56th Presidential Inauguration, 2009 G20 Summit, the 2009 and 2010 U.N. General Assembly and the 2010 nuclear security summit.
Thompson is arriving from Coast Guard Sector North Carolina where he served as the deputy commander and oversaw the daily operations and support for all sector resources within the state of North Carolina. Previously, he has served as the commanding officer of Maritime Safety and Security Team Galveston, the chief of enforcement at the Coast Guard’s 11th District and executive officer at the Tactical Law Enforcement Team South.
The team deploys tailored force packages for national-level, maritime homeland security missions in support of domestic Coast Guard operational commanders and overseas missions in support of combatant commanders performing a wide range of tactical law enforcement and advanced interdiction functions in the maritime domain. Additionally, the team regularly supports Coast Guard commanders with subject matter experts in high-threat law enforcement matters, and by providing maritime law enforcement capability, during domestic and special events; such as, presidential inaugurations, political conventions, international service training, and special security events.
