Earlier today, MCPO Michael Leavitt relieved MCPO Charles Bowen as Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard. The ceremony was held at TRACEN Cape May and widely attended by members of the Coast Guard family. Representative Frank LoBiondo also attended as part of the official party.
Here is the ALCOAST marking the change of watch ceremony:
R 211935Z MAY 10
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//VCG//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N01321//
MSGID/OTHER//
ALCOAST 259/10
COMDTNOTE 1321
SUBJ: MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER OF THE COAST GUARD
1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MASTER CHIEF MICHAEL P. LEAVITT HAS RELIEVED MASTER CHIEF CHARLES W. BOWEN AS THE ELEVENTH MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER OF THE COAST GUARD AT 1300 TODAY.
2. MASTER CHIEF LEAVITT HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS COMMITMENT TO OUR CORE VALUES BY HIS OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE DURING A 28-YEAR COAST GUARD CAREER. MASTER CHIEF LEAVITT MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS SENIOR ENLISTED ADVISOR TO THE DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR OPERATIONS AT COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS. HE HAS SERVED IN VARIOUS AFLOAT AND ASHORE ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDING OFFICER IN CHARGE (OIC) OF STATION MAUI (HI), USCGC POINT DORAN (WA), STATION HATTERAS (NC), STATION OCRACOKE (NC), STATION HUMBOLDT BAY (CA), STATION TILLAMOOK BAY (OR), AND STATION CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT (WA). BASED ON HIS PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE, COMMITMENT TO THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE, AND DEDICATION TO THE SERVICE, HE WILL BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE COAST GUARD SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM.
3. I THANK MASTER CHIEF BOWEN FOR HIS 32 YEARS OF EXCEPTIONAL MILITARY SERVICE TO THE COAST GUARD AND THE NATION. HIS LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONAL SKILL, AND WISE COUNSEL WILL BE MISSED. HE WAS TRULY DEDICATED TO THE WELFARE OF THE ENTIRE COAST GUARD WORKFORCE AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. HE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE PAY AND BENEFITS PARITY WITH OUR DOD COUNTERPARTS AND TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE DETERIORATING CONDITION IN SOME OF OUR AGING HOUSING UNITS. HIS EFFORTS WILL BEAR FRUIT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF COAST GUARD MEN AND WOMEN. THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE, HE ELEVATED THE VALUE OF THE SERVICE TO NEW HEIGHTS IN THE EYES OF OUR EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS. AS A LEADER, HE EPITOMIZED THE GUARDIAN ETHOS. THOSE WORDS ADORNED THE WALLS OUTSIDE HIS OFFICE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE LIVED THE GUARDIAN ETHOS IN HIS DAILY ACTIONS. HE LEAVES AN ENDURING LEGACY FOR ALL OF US TO EMULATE AND I WISH HIM AND HIS WIFE JANET ALL THE BEST IN RETIREMENT.
4. RELEASED BY VADM DAVID PEKOSKE, VICE COMMANDANT.
5. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
BT
