WHO: Capt. Zeita Merchant, outgoing Coast Guard Sector New York commander, Capt. Jonathan Andrechik, incoming Sector New York commander
WHAT:: Merchant is scheduled to relinquish command of Coast Guard Sector New York to Andrechik during a change-of-command ceremony. Following the ceremony, Capt. Merchant will be promoted to rear admiral lower half.
WHEN: Monday, April 22 at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Richard Rodgers Theatre at 226 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036
Editor’s Note: Media interested in attending must RSVP with padetny@uscg.mil and Daniel.L.Henry@uscg.mil by 2:00 p.m. April 21. Media will be allowed access to the theater at 9:30 a.m., and should be prepared to show press credentials and a government issued photo ID.
NEW YORK — Capt. Zeita Merchant is scheduled to relinquish command of Coast Guard Sector New York to Capt. Jonathan Andrechik Monday, during a change-of-command ceremony at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in Manhattan.
Capt. Andrechik is currently the Sector New York deputy commander, a position he has held since June of 2023.
Immediately following the formal change-of-command ceremony, Capt. Merchant will be promoted to the rank of rear admiral. Her promotion is a historic moment for the Coast Guard as she will be the first African American woman to achieve this rank in the nearly 234-year history of the military service.
Following the change of command and promotion, Capt. Merchant will assume the role of commander, U.S. Coast Guard Personnel Service Center in Washington, D.C.
Coast Guard Sector New York is the largest operational field command on the East Coast. The area of responsibility stretches from Sandy Hook, N.J. up the Hudson River to Albany, N.Y. The Coast Guard’s roots started in New York City in 1790 by its Founder, Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton.
The change-of-command ceremony is a time-honored military tradition that marks the transfer of total responsibility and authority from one individual to another. It is conducted to demonstrate a continuation of trust and authority within the chain of command.