MIAMI – A change of command ceremony was held for Maritime Safety and Security Team Miami at Homestead Air Force Reserve Base, Fla., today.
During the ceremony, Lt. Cmdr. Jason Ingram assumed the responsibilities of MSST Miami commanding officer from Lt. Cmdr. Bryan Clampitt.
Under Clampitt’s command, MSST Miami prosecuted 26 homeland security missions and operations including presidential security, counter-piracy and long-term expeditionary deployments. He led three Coast Guard security units during the 2009 G-20 summit.
Ingrim is arriving from Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown, Va., where he served as the boat forces standardization and doctrine chief and oversaw the day-to-day operations and support for all sector resources within the state of North Carolina. Previously, he has served as the commanding officer of Station Atlantic City, N.J.; Station Ocean City, Md; and Station Great Egg, N.J.
The change of command ceremony is a time-honored event preserved by the rich heritage of naval tradition. It is a custom that is formal and impressive and designed to strengthen the respect for the continuity of command that is vital to any military organization. The climax of the ceremony is reached when both officers read their orders, face one another, salute and transfer responsibility for the command. This provides the entire command with the knowledge that the new officer directed by proper authority is taking command and an opportunity to witness this transfer of responsibility.
MSST Miami was created under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 in direct response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and are a part of the Department of Homeland Security’s layered strategy directed at protecting seaports and waterways.
MSSTs provide waterborne and a shore-side antiterrorism force protection for strategic shipping, high-interest vessels, critical infrastructure and national security and special events including the presidential inauguration and the Super Bowl . These units are a quick response force capable of rapid worldwide deployment via air, ground or sea transportation in response to changing threat conditions and evolving maritime homeland security mission requirements.
Eleven MSSTs are strategically positioned throughout the nation and are components of the U.S. Coast Guard Deployable Operations Group (DOG). The DOG provides properly equipped, trained and organized Deployable Specialized Forces (DSFs) to Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense and interagency operational commanders.
