Capt. Charlene Downey, commander of Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach awarded Lt. Matthew Hurtt with a U.S. Coast Guard Commendation Medal for his service as the commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Halibut, July 12, 2017, Marina del Rey, Calif. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd class DaVonte’ Marrow.
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard Cutter Halibut received a new commanding officer during a change-of-command ceremony in Marina del Rey, Wednesday.
Lt. Matthew Hurt, commanding officer of the cutter Halibut, relinquished command to Lt. j.g. John M. Epperly during a time-honored military tradition that formally transfers and ensures the continuity of command.
Epperly reports to the Halibut from his previous tour serving as the operations officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Wrangell, a 110- foot patrol boat, one of six forward deployed U.S. Coast guard patrol boats supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in the Arabian Gulf.
The Coast Guard Cutter Halibut is a Marine Protector Class coastal patrol cutter and is home-ported in Marina del Rey. The Halibut is known throughout the Coast Guard as “the Hollywood cutter” because of its close proximity to Los Angeles and is often used as a representation of the Coast Guard in many news broadcasts, television shows and movie productions.
