Public Information Assist Team U.S. Coast Guard
Press Release	Date: June 13, 2007 Contact: Public Information Officer (252) 331-6000

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. - A change of command ceremony for the Coast Guard's National Strike Force Coordination Center (NSFCC) is scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m. at the Coast Guard Support Center here.

Capt. Roderick E. Walker, previously the deputy commander of Coast Guard Sector San Diego, will assume command from Capt. Meredith L. Austin.  Rear Adm. Wayne E. Justice, the Assistant Commandant for Response at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., will preside over the ceremony.

Austin is transferring to the newly created Deployable Operations Group in Arlington, Va., as the Chief of the Plans, Policy and Exercise Division.

Austin became the commanding officer of the NSFCC and commander of the National Strike Force (NSF) in June 2004.  Her responsibilities included administering the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Strike Teams, the Public Information Assist Team, maintaining nationwide pre-positioned Coast Guard oil spill response equipment, conducting the classification of Oil Spill Removal Organizations and maintaining a nationwide inventory of oil spill assets. In 2005, Austin oversaw the NSF's response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast, the largest deployment of NSF resources in its history.

Prior to taking command of the NSFCC, Austin was commanding officer of the Pacific Strike Team (PST) in Novato, Calif. The PST, along with the other two strike teams, is responsible for responding to oil and hazardous materials discharges for the Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency.

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 following military protocol is designed to strengthen the respect for the continuity of command that is vital to any military organization. The culmination 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 officer directed by proper authority is taking command and an opportunity to witness this transfer of responsibility.

Media is invited to attend the ceremony and is requested to report to the main gate of the Support Center no later than 10:30 a.m. for escort onto the base.  The ceremony will be on the front lawn of Building 35.  For biographies or questions regarding the day's events, contact the Public Information Officer at (252) 331-6000.