ALAMEDA, Calif. — Coast Guard Rear Adm. Karl L. Schultz took the helm from Rear Adm. Joseph “Pepe” Castillo as commander of the 11th Coast Guard District during a change of command ceremony held at Coast Guard Island, Thursday.
Prior to assuming the role as the 11th Coast Guard District’s new senior leader, Schultz most recently served as the Director for Governmental and Public Affairs, leading the Coast Guard’s external engagement with Congress, top tier media and intergovernmental agencies. From 2008 to 2010, Schultz was the Coast Guard’s Chief of Congressional Affairs, overseeing all aspects of agency interaction and engagement with Congress and principal advisor to Coast Guard leadership on legislative affairs. Before his time at Coast Guard Headquarters, Schultz was Miami’s Sector Commander from 2006 to 2008, where he oversaw multi-mission operations along 165 miles of Florida coastline.
“I can think of no more relevant or exciting operational area than the 11th District region to showcase the broad spectrum of missions and challenges the Coast Guard faces today, from ensuring the safety and security of some of our nation’s most critical seaports, to thwarting the flow of illicit narcotics in the Eastern Pacific,” said Schultz. “We will continue to keenly focus on performing our varied missions with strategic intent, technical competence and professionalism.”
Castillo assumed his duties as 11th Coast Guard District Commander in July 2009, becoming the first Hispanic to command a Coast Guard district. In fiscal year 2011, 11th Coast Guard District units responded to more than 3,600 search and rescue cases, saved 540 lives and provided assistance to nearly 8,000 others. In partnership with the U.S. Navy and other nations in Central and South America, Coast Guard assets stopped more than 34 tons of cocaine in maritime transit zones in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
“The 11th District performed well by every measure, maintaining a steady course towards operational and personal excellence,” said Castillo. “Most importantly, to the men and women of the 11th District — active duty, reserve, civilian, and Auxiliarist — you performed magnificently. I asked for your best effort, and you gave it. Thank you.”
The area of responsibility for the 11th Coast Guard District includes California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah, as well as the coastal and international waters off the Coast of Mexico, Central America and South America.
