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Press Release | Aug. 1, 2023

Coast Guard welcomes new commander to District 13

Rear Adm. Charles Fosse (left) and Capt. Olav Saboe (right) stand with Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander, immediately following a change of command ceremony at Base Seattle, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Vice Adm. Tiongson (center) presided over the ceremony which was held to officially transfer command of the Coast Guard's 13th District from Saboe to Fosse. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3 rd Class Annika Hirschler) Capt. Olav Saboe, outgoing District 13 commander, makes remarks during the 13th District’s change of command ceremony at Base Seattle, Aug. 1, 2023. Coast Guard’s 13th District assets carry out an array of daily operations including search and rescue, coastal patrols to enforce safety and fisheries operations, and examine commercial vessels and waterfront facilities. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Annika Hirschler) Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, Coast Guard Pacific Area commander, speaks to the crowd during the District 13 change of command ceremony held at Base Seattle Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Tiongson presided over the ceremony as Rear Adm. Charles Fosse officially assumed command of Coast Guard 13th District. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3 rd Class Annika Hirschler) Capt. Olav Saboe (right) salutes Rear Adm. Charles Fosse (left) during a change of command ceremony held at Base Seattle Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. During the ceremony, Fosse officially assumed command of Coast Guard's 13th District, which is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3 rd Class Annika Hirschler)

SEATTLE — The Coast Guard’s 13th District held a change of command ceremony Tuesday morning at Coast Guard Base Seattle.

During the ceremony, Rear Adm. Charles Fosse relieved Capt. Olav Saboe as commander of the Coast Guard’s 13th District which is headquartered in Seattle.

Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area, presided over the ceremony.

As the 13th District Commander, Fosse is now responsible for all Coast Guard operations throughout the Pacific Northwest which encompasses the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. This area includes more than 4,400 miles of coastline, 600 miles of inland waterways, and a 125 nautical mile international border with Canada.

Saboe served as the District Commander for one month prior to Fosse’s arrival to Seattle. Previously, Saboe was Chief of Staff for the 13th District where he helped direct more than 2,000 Coast Guard women and men in executing statutory missions throughout the Pacific Northwest. He will now head to Colorado to serve as a Coast Guard liaison officer for U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

“It has been my distinct pleasure and honor to lead the women and men of the Coast Guard’s Thirteenth District,” said Saboe. “The work they do on a daily basis ensures the safety and security of our waters and those who work, recreate, and are sustained on them.”

The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition conducted before the assembled crew, as well as honored guests and dignitaries to formally demonstrate the continuity of the authority within a command.