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Capt. Lawrence Gaillard (right), outgoing Air Station Borinquen commanding officer, shakes hands with Air Station Borinquen’s new commanding officer, Capt. Jeffrey P. Owens (left), and Capt. Willie L. Carmichael, Seventh Coast Guard District chief of staff (center), during the unit’s change of command ceremony in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico June 11, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Coast Guard Auxiliarist Oscar Salinas)

June 11, 2025

Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen receives new commanding officer in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen celebrated their change of command at the Base Borinquen aircraft hangar in Aguadilla, Wednesday. In the ceremony, Capt. Jeffrey P. Owens relieved Capt. Lawrence D. Gaillard as Air Station Borinquen’s commanding officer before unit members, aviators, shipmates, partner agency representatives, family and friends, who witnessed the formal transfer of command authority from one commanding officer to the next. Capt. Willie L. Carmichael, Seventh Coast Guard District chief of staff, presided over the ceremony in which he presented Gaillard with the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal (gold star in lieu of a third award) recognizing his achievements during the three-year tour. Under Gaillard’s leadership, Air Station Borinquen achieved extraordinary success in executing 5,400 flight hours, encompassing 423 Search and Rescue missions with 1,088 lives saved, or assisted. His decisive leadership enabled the successful completion of 49 law enforcement cases, resulting in the interdiction of 729 undocumented aliens and the seizure of 51 million dollars in illegal narcotics.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) held a change of command ceremony, Monday, Jun. 9, in San Diego. Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, commander of Coast Guard Pacific Area, presided over the ceremony in which Capt. Andrew Pate relieved Capt. Billy Mees as Bertholf’s commanding officer. Mees served as Bertholf’s commanding officer from June 2023 to June 2025. Under Mees’ leadership, Bertholf deployed to the Bering Sea, Western Pacific and Oceania in support of domestic and illegal, unregulated, unreported fisheries and building international partnerships. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. j.g Tyler Ma)

June 11, 2025

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf holds change of command ceremony

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) held a change of command ceremony, Monday, in San Diego.

During the change of command ceremony for U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active (WMEC 618), Cmdr. Earl Potter and Cmdr. Adam Disque shook hands, Sunday, Jun. 8, in San Diego. Rear Adm. Joanna Hiigel, deputy commander of Coast Guard Pacific Area, presided over the ceremony. Under Disque’s leadership, Active deployed to the Eastern Pacific Ocean in support of counternarcotics efforts, search and rescue and territorial integrity. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Karen Hovey)

June 11, 2025

Coast Guard Cutter Active holds change of command ceremony

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active (WMEC 618) and crew held a change of command ceremony, Sunday, in San Diego. Cmdr. Earl Potter relieved Cmdr. Adam Disque as Active’s 31st commanding officer during the ceremony. Rear Adm. Joanna Hiigel, deputy commander for Coast Guard Pacific Area, presided over the ceremony.

Coast Guard leaders salute the national flag during the Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB-20) change-of-command ceremony in Seattle, June 10, 2025. The 420-foot icebreaker is the Coast Guard’s primary platform for Arctic missions. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Annika Hirschler)

June 11, 2025

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy holds change of command ceremony

The crew of the U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB 20) received a new commanding officer, Tuesday, following a change of command ceremony aboard the cutter at Coast Guard Base Seattle.

A British Virgin Islands Royal Marine Police surface unit tows demasted sailing vessel Topaze, with one mariner aboard, after the vessel transmitted a distress signal that was received by US Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders, June 10, 2025. British Virgin Islands Royal Marine Police, U.S. Coast Guard, and Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard air and surface units involved in the case helped ensure the vessel and mariner reached safe harbor in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

June 11, 2025

Coast Guard, Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, British Virgin Islands Royal Marine Police assist mariner aboard demasted sailing vessel

US Coast Guard, British Virgin Islands Royal Marine Police, and Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard air and surface units rescued a sole mariner aboard demasted sailing vessel in Eastern Caribbean waters northeast of Anegada, British Virgin Islands, Tuesday. Rescued was French citizen Frank Rouvray, 58, who reportedly was on a voyage to the island of Saint Martin when the vessel became demasted, and the distress signal was transmitted to the Coast Guard.

A white boat used to smuggle migrants is seen moored up to a pier.

June 11, 2025

Coast Guard interdicts 9 aliens near Alamitos Bay, Calif.

PHOTO AVAILABLE: A boat crew from Coast Guard Station Los Angeles-Long Beach interdicted nine aliens aboard a recreational vessel, approximately three miles south of the Alamitos Bay entrance, Sunday evening.

A Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew flies over Anguilla Cay to deliver food, water, and supplies to stranded aliens, Friday, June 6, 2025. The crew of USCGC Walnut (WLB 205) arrived on scene and rescued 20 aliens of Cuban nationality before processing them for disposition. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

June 10, 2025

Coast Guard transfers 20 aliens to Bahamas authorities

MIAMI – The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell transferred 20 aliens of Cuban nationality

June 10, 2025

Coast Guard interdicts 5 aliens off the coast of Point Loma, Calif.

A crew aboard a Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Los Angeles/Long Beach boat interdicted five aliens aboard a 20-foot pleasure craft, approximately 4 miles southwest, of Point Loma, Monday.

A graphic of search patterns run by several U.S. Coast Guard assets is shown for the search of a missing Cessna 414.

June 10, 2025

UPDATE: Coast Guard suspends search for 6 missing people in downed plane near Pt. Loma, Calif.

GRAPHIC AVAILABLE: The Coast Guard suspended its search 10 a.m. Tuesday, pending further developments, for a downed Cessna 414 with six persons aboard approximately three miles west of Point Loma.