Rear Admiral Michael N. Parks, 9th District Commander
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – The commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District, will be the keynote speaker at the 2011 Traverse City Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Friday at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.
Rear Adm. Mike Parks, who oversees Coast Guard operations in the Great Lakes region, including the shared border with Canada, will showcase operations over the last year and outline the Coast Guard’s new Great Lakes Maritime Strategy, a multi-year plan for Coast Guard activities in the region.
“For our partners and communities, we share this strategy so you know what your Coast Guard in the Great Lakes will be working toward, and so that you may hold us accountable to the principles and priorities that have been outlined,” said Parks.
Anne Brengle, president of the Coast Guard Foundation, and Cmdr. Jon Spaner, commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, will also speak. The speakers and distinguished guests will then help the Naval Sea Cadet Corps launch a new Traverse City squadron, who began training at the air station earlier this month. For more information on the development of the NSCC Traverse City squadron Click here.
Confirmed to attend are: Michigan Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, Michigan State Representatives Wayne Schmidt and Greg McMaster, and the presidents and directors of several Traverse City businesses.
The Coast Guard plans to have an HH-65C Dolphin rescue helicopter from Air Station Traverse City on display, as well as a 25-foot Response Boat-Small from Coast Guard Station Charlevoix, Mich., and aids-to-navigation equipment, including navigational buoys, from Coast Guard Sector Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. There will be Coast Guard representatives at each display to discuss the equipment.
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